Why Read Catullus in Roman History

3/27/12   Why  Read  Catullus  in  Roman  History?   • To  get  you  to  want  to  take  La?n   • Voice  of  a  young  man  from  1st  century  BC  who   wasn’t  a  famous  general  or  poli?cian   • Example  of  the  evolu?on  of  Roman  culture   – from  the  rus?c  Roman  ideal  to  the  fashionable  Greek   trends  (i.e.  poetry  is  now  a  proper  object  of   intellectual  energy  for  a  Roman  gentleman)   – Emergence  of  individualism,  esp.  in  poli?cal  crisis  at   end  of  the  Republic   • See  historical  context  shaping  literature   • Window  into  Roman  view  of  manliness  and   sexuality   TIMELINE  FOR  GAIUS  VALERIUS  CATULLUS   • 88  BC  –  Sulla  wins  civil  war  against  Marius  and  Cinna   • 82  BC  –  Catullus  born  in  Verona  (Romanized  Gaul)  to   a  rich  provincial  family  with  ?es  to  important  families  at   Rome,  including  Julius  Caesar.   • 71  BC  –  Spartacus’  slave  revolt  is  crushed   • 63  BC  –  Ca?linarian  Conspiracy     • 60  BC  –  Pompey,  Crassus,  &  Caesar  =  First  Triumvirate     • 54  BC  –  last  dateable  reference  in  Catullus’  poetry.       (Catullus  probably  died  soon  ager.    If  so,  he  was  about   30  when  he  died)   Cultural  evolu?on:    from  Cincinnatus  to  this??   Catullus  57   “How  well  those  two  bad  fairies  fit  together,   this  queenly  couple,  Caesar  and  Mamurra!   -­‐-­‐No  wonder,  for  they’re  like  as  two  stains   (one  is  from  the  city,  from  Formiae  the  other)   stains  sunk  in  too  deeply  to  be  go[en  rid  of:   a  pair  of  twins  with  all  the  same  diseases,   they  lie  entangled  on  one  couch  to  scribble,   adulterers  both,  equally  voracious,   rival  partners  in  ravishing  li[le  girls:   how  well  these  two  bad  fairies  fit  together!”   Catullus  the  Revolu?onary   • Catullus  “un-­‐Roman”  simply  for  devo?ng  self  to   poetry   • his  poetry  is  not  na?onal  epic  celebra?ng  Rome!   – Instead,  it’s  about  Catullus’  personal  experiences   with  love,  sex,  social  circles,  and  wri?ng  poetry.   • Neoteric  Poets  /  New  Poets   – Write  about  personal,  every  day  experience   – Use  colloquial  and  even  vulgar  language   – But  consider  themselves  very  “learned”  &  poe?c   • Subjec?vity  in  Roman  poetry  was  an  innova?on   1   3/27/12   Who  was  Lesbia?     • A  source  a  few  centuries  later  tell  us  Lesbia  is   a  pseudonym  for  “Clodia”.       • Which  Clodia?       – Many  think  Clodia  Metelli,  sister  of  Clodius   Pulcher  (popularis  poli?cian)  and  woman  whom   Cicero  vilifies  in  one  of  his  most  famous  speeches!       – But  in  fact  not  sure…   • Why  nickname  her  Lesbia?     – a  nod  to  Sappho,  famous  female  Greek  poet  from   6th  century  BC,  who  lived  on  island  of  Lesbos.     Caveat:  Beware  of  the  poe?c  persona   • The  seeming  artlessness  of  Catullus  is   deliberate  &  arCul.   – Catullus  creates  a  whole  world  for  us  of  his   life  and  friends,  and  every  day  experiences.     – BUT  the  feeling  we  get  that  Catullus’  poetry   is  off  the  cuff  is  testament  to  his  poe?c  skill.   – C.’s  poetry  is  a  serious  and  scholarly  a[empt   to  change  how  poetry  func?oned.    He   labors  to  create  the  impression  of  an   unvarnished  glimpse  into  his  life.     2