Both the story and the article present Nero in a negative light, but the emphasis, tone, and purpose of the two texts are very different. The story's purpose is to entertain, and its viewpoint of the events is somewhat detached. It clearly shows Nero's harsh nature, but it focuses on his egotism and coarseness. It does not include a detailed judgment of Nero's character. The article, however, focuses on Nero's character, which it strongly criticizes.
Three moments in the story indicate Nero is ready to resort to violence:
In the beginning, Doyle mentions that Nero brought along a group of senators and knights whom he feared to leave behind in Rome and then had them murdered one by one.
At the end of the story, Nero expresses "half a wish" to burn down the town where the contest was held.
Nero intends to torture and kill Policles.
The information in the article is consistent with that of the story, but the article highlights politically or historically significant events in Nero's violent career, such as the murders of his family members and his persecution of Christians.
The article emphasizes Nero's violence, but doesn’t dwell on his conceit and egotism, which are prominent in the story.
In the story, Nero's participation in a rigged musical contest suggests an eccentric streak. The article’s claim that Nero organized a musical performance while Rome burned suggest he had a self-centered and spiteful nature.
