Language and persuasion in Armorum iudicium. Ovid´s Metamorphoses 13.1-398

Abstract

The aim of this article is to approach the episode Armorum iudicium (Met. XIII, 1-385) as an example of argumentative speech. It is known that the main purpose of argumentation is persuasion, that is, the need of affecting the reader in different ways (make someone do something; make someone believe; etc.). We will analyze the strategies used by Ajax and by Ulysses to achieve their objective: getting the weapons in front of their battle mates, who will become judges. In this context, language takes the fundamental role of a power instrument, due to the fact that it has an orientation to certain kind of intervention on the recipient. The power of speech, in this sense, would rely on the function by means of which language takes the role of builder of world visions that allows convincing the interlocutor to think or react in a particular way.