| Can Livia be more Evil? Needless to say there is no ancient evidence for this scene. Even Graves, who romantically links Postumus and Livilla for fictional purposes, doesn't provide us with this mistress of manipulation moment. Pulman presents this epiphany of evil by creating a Livia who will, through any means necessary, reach her goal (Tiberius' accession). No person or incident is too insignificant to escape Livia's notice. A lecherous leer leads Livilla into Livia's lair. We witness Livia bend her granddaughter to her own will. Livia begins her cat-and-mouse play with an accusation of adultery, fully expecting Livilla to deny the charge. After forcing a confession, she procedes to break the girl with the threat of banishment. Livilla, completely leveled, is now putty in her hands. Livia begins the re-building process. Through flattery and confidences, she plays on Livilla's ambition molding her into a political protege. Like the scenes in Episode 3 with Plautius and Lucius, Pulman creates this fictional encounter to portray Livia as the incarnation of evil. And now she's cultivating Little Livia. |
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