Study Guide

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party Part 2, Chapter 2

By M.T. Anderson

Part 2, Chapter 2

No one speaks after the whipping incident.
Cassiopeia sits for days in her room, acting like a tyrant to the other slaves.
At first, the slaves are sympathetic—the cook even makes special food for her—but after Cassiopeia keeps sending the food back because it's not good enough for her, the cook stops giving her special treatment.
Octavian also doesn't speak, nor does he go to his lessons.
When he does resume his studies with 09-01 again, he doesn't speak for two days.
But 09-01 doesn't put up with the silence for long, and on the third day, he tells Octavian to read a text in Latin aloud.
Octavian speaks really quietly, which frustrates 09-01 so much that 09-01 starts badgering Octavian to speak more loudly.
In fact, 09-01 gets so caught up in the moment that he starts reading the text in a loud, booming voice.
Come to find out that the text he wants Octavian to read is all about a slave in Rome, who rises up against his masters through a rebellion. (Interesting choice…)
Octavian starts translating as 09-01 reads the Latin aloud, until eventually his voice matches 09-01's loudness as they continue to read together.

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