Rate My Professor Nathan Watson

Watson obtained his Master of Arts degree in Classics from the University of Otago in 2013. His thesis, "From Philosophising Ass to Asinine Philosopher: Satire in Book 11 of Apuleius' Metamorphoses," was supervised by John Garthwaite and examined satirical elements in the final book of Apuleius' novel. This research culminated in his 2014 publication, "Dreams and Superstition: A Reinterpretation of Satire in Apuleius, Metamorphoses 11," appearing in the journal Ancient Narrative. In this article, Watson contends that Apuleius satirizes superstitious behavior through Lucius' religious experiences in Book 11. Diverging from prior views emphasizing priestly deception or religious gullibility, Watson focuses on Lucius' dreams as evidence of an unphilosophical attitude and profound lack of insight into divine matters. The author-protagonist identification at 11.27 sharpens the satire by juxtaposing Lucius with Apuleius' self-description as a philosopher in the Apologia, illustrating that Lucius' internal flaws persist despite his physical transformation from ass to human. Watson indicated plans to pursue further studies on Apuleius' oeuvre. Complementing his scholarly output, he authored "Writing Better Essays: An In-depth Guide to Improving Essay Skills for Classics Students" in 2013 for the University of Otago Department of Classics. This resource teaches a systematic method for essay composition, covering question interpretation, logical structuring, precise referencing, bibliography standards, and emphasis on clarity to render academic writing accessible and effective across disciplines while adhering to departmental norms.