On the Shortness of Life

Asyndeton is a rhetorical device characterized by the omission of conjunctions (i.e., “and,” “but,” “or”) between words or phrases in a series. Seneca uses this device periodically throughout his essay to give his ideas more weight by not distracting the reader with conjunctions. For example, the abrupt quality of Seneca’s observation on the threefold nature of time highlights the certainty of its truth by allowing each statement to impact the reader without the verbal clutter of conjunctions: “Of these, the present is short, the future is doubtful, the past is certain” (15). The use of asyndeton creates a sense of momentum and clarity in the text.

Metaphor allows writers to convey abstract concepts by drawing comparisons to more concrete or familiar objects or ideas. In Seneca’s essay, he employs the metaphor of time as a commodity to help readers grasp the finite nature of time and to emphasize the importance of using it wisely. He states, “It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste much of it. Life is long enough, and it’s been given to us in generous measure” (1). Here, he equates life to a generous allocation of this valuable commodity: time. This metaphor reframes our perception of life, shifting the focus from its brevity to how it is spent.

Seneca also uses the metaphor of time as a journey, comparing the journey of life to a voyage. He notes, “Life is like a journey, and the journey’s end is death” (15). This metaphor underscores the inevitability of life’s conclusion and encourages readers to consider how they navigate this journey, all while making the abstract concept of time more tangible and relatable.

Seneca makes extensive use of rhetorical questions throughout his work as a means to prompt engagement and reflection with his reader. Rhetorical questions were a key part of Roman oratory and writing style and were designed to draw in the reader/listener and to encourage them to see things from another point of view. Very often, they are used to make hypothetical examples. Their emotive, persuasive aspect can be seen, for example, when Seneca makes an argument about how often time is wasted, from legal disputes to insincere friendships:

How many days has that defendant stolen from you? Or that candidate? Or that old lady worn out with burying her heirs? Or that man shamming an illness to excite the greed of legacy-hunters? Or that influential friend who keeps people like you not for friendship but for display? (10-11).

This series of questions locates Seneca’s philosophy in real examples, demonstrating its importance as an applied way of life.