Boethius

Boethius is both the author of the story and the main character. The work is semi-autobiographical but the author changes some significant facts. Boethius was, in fact, imprisoned and eventually executed by King Theodoric for treason. However, the crime he is accused of is different in the story than what is known historically. Boethius claims to have been convicted of treason for standing up for the Senate, whom Theodoric also condemned to death on trumped up charges. In reality, Boethius was convicted of conspiring with the hated Byzantine Empire. It is fairly obvious why Boethius would be tempted to change this fact. The Boethius in the story is meant to be a man of virtue whose miseries have caused him to fall away from his happy life. While it is entirely possible that Boethius was a victim of Theodoric's unjust and arbitrary whims, being falsely accused of aiding...