Lines 118-127
"Ancient epic poems often contained seemingly gratuitous/unnecessary descriptions of physical violence; how is Ovid's graphic depiction of Pyramus' suicide, on the other hand, quite essential to the story line?"
Ovid's description of Pyramus' suicide is quite essential to the story line. Focusing for a minute soley on the actual story line, I believe that his death had to be intricately described because their love was intricate. Everything they did, every chance they had to see each other was brought about with plans and sneaking around. It took slyness to be able to sneak out to speak between the walls, but even greater slyness to be able to leave the confines of the city and run away together. That type of thing takes detail, planning. Pyramus' death reminds me of their love in how it was so detailed, so intricately described. It was painful to read and I think that was Ovid's point; I think Ovid wanted the reader to feel their love, if that makes sense. What I mean is this: it was frustrating to read about how Pyramus and Thisbe couldn't really see each other. It was also frustrating to read about Pyramus' suicide because of the fact that Thisbe wasn't even dead! Ovid wanted us to feel the frustration that Pyramus felt when he found that bloody veil and assumed the worst. Their relationship at this point in the story is all based on instant reactions. For example, when he sees the veil of Thisbe and animal tracks, he doesn't stick around to find out if she's actually dead! Instead, he reacts by deciding that she is dead and that he can't live without her. Thus, he kills himself. This is frustrating because, yes, to love someone so much that you feel like your life wouldn't be worth living without them is a common thought amongst teenagers. But he should've taken the time to think it through.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Pyramus and Thisbe 2
Lines 105-127
In lines 105-127 of Pyramus and Thisbe, I have seen them sneak out of the city to meet each other at a designated place. Unfortunately, however, Pyramus comes across Thibe's veil and assumes she's dead. Therefore, he kills himself. Throughout these lines of poetry, there are some forms of figures of speech.
For example, around lines 108 and 109, Pyramus uses personification by saying, "My heart is guilty." This is personification because obviously his heart cannot literally be guilty. We only say things like this because for some reason, we all buy into the fact that our heart contains our emotions, rather than our brain. Heart sounds a little more poetic, I guess. Another FOS used is around lines 117 and 118 when Pyramus says to the lioness (who is not there), "Receive now a drink of my blood also!" This FOS is apostrophe. It is apostrophe because even though Pyramus is addressing the sword, the sword is an inanimate object. He may also be addressing something/someone else, but he does not make it clear as to whom he is addressing.
A third FOS used in this poem is around lines 120 and 121. Here, Ovid writes, "...blood spurts upward, not unlike that of a faulty lead pipe..." This figure of speech is litotes, because it is saying that it is not exactly like blood spurting from a pipe, yet it uis not exactly unlike it either.
In lines 105-127 of Pyramus and Thisbe, I have seen them sneak out of the city to meet each other at a designated place. Unfortunately, however, Pyramus comes across Thibe's veil and assumes she's dead. Therefore, he kills himself. Throughout these lines of poetry, there are some forms of figures of speech.
For example, around lines 108 and 109, Pyramus uses personification by saying, "My heart is guilty." This is personification because obviously his heart cannot literally be guilty. We only say things like this because for some reason, we all buy into the fact that our heart contains our emotions, rather than our brain. Heart sounds a little more poetic, I guess. Another FOS used is around lines 117 and 118 when Pyramus says to the lioness (who is not there), "Receive now a drink of my blood also!" This FOS is apostrophe. It is apostrophe because even though Pyramus is addressing the sword, the sword is an inanimate object. He may also be addressing something/someone else, but he does not make it clear as to whom he is addressing.
A third FOS used in this poem is around lines 120 and 121. Here, Ovid writes, "...blood spurts upward, not unlike that of a faulty lead pipe..." This figure of speech is litotes, because it is saying that it is not exactly like blood spurting from a pipe, yet it uis not exactly unlike it either.
Pyramus and Thisbe limerick
There once was a couple from the city,
one of whom was very pretty.
They snuck out at night,
thinking they'd be alright.
Their ending was anything but witty.
one of whom was very pretty.
They snuck out at night,
thinking they'd be alright.
Their ending was anything but witty.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Pyramus and Thibe 1
In Pyramus and Thisbe, a poem so far about two lovers who, due to family feuds, aren't allowed to communicate. Instead they whisper "sweet talks" to each other through a crack in the wall that divides their houses. This far, the author Ovid has used some figures of speech to get across some of the messages by the characters.
One example of a FOS he uses is a rhetorical question. This can be found around line 66 when Ovid asks the reader, "What doesn't love perceive?" He is asking this about the crack in the wall, a flaw that has been noticed by no one through the long generations, but was noticed by Pyramus and Thisbe. They notice it because love noticed all, which I believe is what Ovid meant by that question; he meant that when two people love each other, the obstacles are meaningless, because if that person is truly worth it, you'll find a way around the issues put in front of you. Perhaps the obstacles are put there to see if the person you think you love is worth it all - worth all of the trouble you both go through for each other.
Another FOS used by Ovid is apostrophe. Around line 72, Pyramus and Thisbe ask the wall (who obviously is unable to answer), "Oh jealous wall, why do you oppose lovers?" They ask why the wall would keep 2 lovers apart, which brings me to the thrid FOS Ovid uses: personification. Right after that line, Pyramus and Thisbe ask that wall that if it is too much of a request to be allowed to be joined in whole body, then could the wall allow for kisses to be given? this is personification because it is giving human characteristics to an inanimate object. Obviously the wall cannot "oppose lovers" or :allow" for them to kiss.
These are 3 FOS that Ovid has incorporated thus far into the story of Pyramus and Thisbe.
One example of a FOS he uses is a rhetorical question. This can be found around line 66 when Ovid asks the reader, "What doesn't love perceive?" He is asking this about the crack in the wall, a flaw that has been noticed by no one through the long generations, but was noticed by Pyramus and Thisbe. They notice it because love noticed all, which I believe is what Ovid meant by that question; he meant that when two people love each other, the obstacles are meaningless, because if that person is truly worth it, you'll find a way around the issues put in front of you. Perhaps the obstacles are put there to see if the person you think you love is worth it all - worth all of the trouble you both go through for each other.
Another FOS used by Ovid is apostrophe. Around line 72, Pyramus and Thisbe ask the wall (who obviously is unable to answer), "Oh jealous wall, why do you oppose lovers?" They ask why the wall would keep 2 lovers apart, which brings me to the thrid FOS Ovid uses: personification. Right after that line, Pyramus and Thisbe ask that wall that if it is too much of a request to be allowed to be joined in whole body, then could the wall allow for kisses to be given? this is personification because it is giving human characteristics to an inanimate object. Obviously the wall cannot "oppose lovers" or :allow" for them to kiss.
These are 3 FOS that Ovid has incorporated thus far into the story of Pyramus and Thisbe.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Catullus 75: Limerick
You broke my heart to pieces, my dear,
Now I live in the lonliest of fears.
You promised you would love me,
But you betrayed me, you see.
Could have loved you forever and a year.
Now I live in the lonliest of fears.
You promised you would love me,
But you betrayed me, you see.
Could have loved you forever and a year.
Catullus 8
In this poem, Catullus is basically writing a letter to himself. This letter is taking place after Lesbia cheated on Catullus and crushed him. It is sort of like the last stage(s) of the 5 stages of Catullus's grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance.
In a previous poem, the denial part came. In that poem (72), Catullus decided that after Lesbia cheated, he would love her more, but respect her less. He actually thought it would be that easy. Then in poem 85, Catullus says, "I love and I hate" - the anger. The anger continues in this poem 8, he yells at himself to snap out of it! He says, "Misreble Catullus, stop being a fool!" He had originally bargained - said that if he loved her more passionately then she might remember why she first fell in love with him.
This poem, I think, is specifically about depression and acceptance...and determination also thrown in there. He says, "...consider that which you see to be destroyed to be dead" (this meaning his relationship with Lesbia). I think this poem, like I've said about many other of Catullus's poems, are easy for high school-aged young adults to relate to. Everyone has been through break-ups, and in the end, after the sadness and frustration, you just want to come out stronger. For the first half of the poem, he talks of how he's going to miss the goodtimes, but he now realizes that she was never really fully enjoying herself in the relationship. Later in the poem, though, he realizes that no matter how strong he can claim to be, Lesbia is still going to move on; at the end of the day, she is still going to bite someone elses lip, kiss someone else, love someone, belong to someone else. I think that's why break-ups are the hardest - because no matter what, you know they'll always find someone else...and that you'll be replaced by someone new. And you may ask yourself what that other person has that you didn't have. It's difficult, but just as Catullus reminds himself at the end of the poem, you have to accept it and be strong.
In a previous poem, the denial part came. In that poem (72), Catullus decided that after Lesbia cheated, he would love her more, but respect her less. He actually thought it would be that easy. Then in poem 85, Catullus says, "I love and I hate" - the anger. The anger continues in this poem 8, he yells at himself to snap out of it! He says, "Misreble Catullus, stop being a fool!" He had originally bargained - said that if he loved her more passionately then she might remember why she first fell in love with him.
This poem, I think, is specifically about depression and acceptance...and determination also thrown in there. He says, "...consider that which you see to be destroyed to be dead" (this meaning his relationship with Lesbia). I think this poem, like I've said about many other of Catullus's poems, are easy for high school-aged young adults to relate to. Everyone has been through break-ups, and in the end, after the sadness and frustration, you just want to come out stronger. For the first half of the poem, he talks of how he's going to miss the goodtimes, but he now realizes that she was never really fully enjoying herself in the relationship. Later in the poem, though, he realizes that no matter how strong he can claim to be, Lesbia is still going to move on; at the end of the day, she is still going to bite someone elses lip, kiss someone else, love someone, belong to someone else. I think that's why break-ups are the hardest - because no matter what, you know they'll always find someone else...and that you'll be replaced by someone new. And you may ask yourself what that other person has that you didn't have. It's difficult, but just as Catullus reminds himself at the end of the poem, you have to accept it and be strong.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Catullus 72
In this poem, Catullus talks about a lot of different emotions, and those emotions are what balances the poem out. The basic meaning of this poem is that Catullus, inevitably, gets crushed by Lesbia's cheating actions. I say that it was inevitable because if Lesbia was capable of lying to her foolish previous husband back when she first liked Catullus, then she is certainly capable of lying to Catullus about someone else. That's the reality: that anyone is capable of anyting.
Catullus says in the poem, "Because such an injury as this drives a lover to love more and respect less." I believe what Catullus is trying to accomplish through this sentence is that no longer does he fully repsect Lesbia for cheating on him, and maybe he does not trust her as much either; but he will try harder/"love more". It's like he's saying he wants her more because she cheated. Obviously Lesbia wasn't happy with Catullus or wasn't getting what she needed - which is the case with some couples. Therefore, she found it with someone else. This makes Catullus want to work harder at the relationship. I understand how Catullus feels though, like maybe if he works harder he can forget that Lesbia cheated on him and it will all work itself out. But in the end, that doesn't always seem to be the case. Sometimes your opinion of the person is so completely warped after an incident such as that that you can't ever look at them the same again, thus being forced to end the relationship.
As for the balance of the poem, Catullus does a terrific job of using different forms of words to show that the balance in their relationship is off and therefore completely changed. What Lesbia has done has changed the balance - the passion, now, is more intense, but the respect has gone down, throwing the "scale" off balance. Some examples of balance words he chooses are: "you only knew Catullus.." and "Now I know you."; as well as comparing Catullus and Jupiter in the sentence, "...and that you would not even hold Jupiter before me." With the latin words, he uses words such as amare, which is an every day kind of love; vs. dilexi, which is the real love that one cherishes. By doing these things, it shoes how conflicted Catullus was and how he realizes everything now.
Catullus says in the poem, "Because such an injury as this drives a lover to love more and respect less." I believe what Catullus is trying to accomplish through this sentence is that no longer does he fully repsect Lesbia for cheating on him, and maybe he does not trust her as much either; but he will try harder/"love more". It's like he's saying he wants her more because she cheated. Obviously Lesbia wasn't happy with Catullus or wasn't getting what she needed - which is the case with some couples. Therefore, she found it with someone else. This makes Catullus want to work harder at the relationship. I understand how Catullus feels though, like maybe if he works harder he can forget that Lesbia cheated on him and it will all work itself out. But in the end, that doesn't always seem to be the case. Sometimes your opinion of the person is so completely warped after an incident such as that that you can't ever look at them the same again, thus being forced to end the relationship.
As for the balance of the poem, Catullus does a terrific job of using different forms of words to show that the balance in their relationship is off and therefore completely changed. What Lesbia has done has changed the balance - the passion, now, is more intense, but the respect has gone down, throwing the "scale" off balance. Some examples of balance words he chooses are: "you only knew Catullus.." and "Now I know you."; as well as comparing Catullus and Jupiter in the sentence, "...and that you would not even hold Jupiter before me." With the latin words, he uses words such as amare, which is an every day kind of love; vs. dilexi, which is the real love that one cherishes. By doing these things, it shoes how conflicted Catullus was and how he realizes everything now.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Catullus 86
In poem 86, Catullus is describing a seemingly beautiful woman, names Quintia. In poem 43 we also had an instance where Catullus was describing a woman, possibly his mistress. This instance, however, was different in how he called Quintia beautiful but the other woman he subtlely insulted her.
Everyone thinks that Quintia is gorgeous - she is fair-skinned (something valued back then), as well as tall and upright (good posture). However, as a whole, Catullus feels as though Lesbia is the most beautiful woman in the world, and therefore Quintia could not compare.
I think Catullus represents a good husband (supposing that Lesbia and he are married, that is). he's a role model, I believe, for men everywhere, if you choose to look at this poem through my eyes. If you think your wife is the most beautiful woman in the world, tell her! if you can think of little things about the person you love - details - then tell them. Catullus could have been less of a man by agreeing that Quintia is beautiful and going on about it, or saying nothing more than that. But instead, he says that while he "confesses to each of her features individually," he does not like the whole of her; she lacks any flicker of whit. He brings Lesbia up, as any man should do. I believe it makes Catullus a bigger man to bring up his wife or girlfriend in comparison with another woman. It's nice that Catullus can recognize that she's special and that anyone else pales in comparison.
Everyone thinks that Quintia is gorgeous - she is fair-skinned (something valued back then), as well as tall and upright (good posture). However, as a whole, Catullus feels as though Lesbia is the most beautiful woman in the world, and therefore Quintia could not compare.
I think Catullus represents a good husband (supposing that Lesbia and he are married, that is). he's a role model, I believe, for men everywhere, if you choose to look at this poem through my eyes. If you think your wife is the most beautiful woman in the world, tell her! if you can think of little things about the person you love - details - then tell them. Catullus could have been less of a man by agreeing that Quintia is beautiful and going on about it, or saying nothing more than that. But instead, he says that while he "confesses to each of her features individually," he does not like the whole of her; she lacks any flicker of whit. He brings Lesbia up, as any man should do. I believe it makes Catullus a bigger man to bring up his wife or girlfriend in comparison with another woman. It's nice that Catullus can recognize that she's special and that anyone else pales in comparison.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Catullus 87
In this poem, Catullus is basically preaching to Lesbia about how much he loves her. He says that there as no faith in any other contract than there was in his love for her.
Personally, although coming from someone who hasn't experienced a love as great as this seems to be, I think Catullus is a little blinded. Maybe his blindness is advantageous; perhaps it's better to feel like this in your own little world than be in reality where Lesbia may not love him as much as he loves her. Looking at what these poems are leading readers to believe, Lesbia was formerly married, had feelings for Catullus, and then left her marriage for Catullus. If she was able to love someone else while she was married, then she's able to do that to Catullus too. It's like how they say "a cheater is always a cheater," and Lesbia sort of reminds me of that quote. Even though she didn't necessarily cheat on her foolish hunsband, she was capable of it. Catullus needs to look at the reality of it and realize that not all love lasts forever, no matter how much faith you have in it. Even if you care about the person more than anything else - more than you cared about yourself - sometimes it's not enough. I know it sounds like something that not everyone would say, but it's the reality of life. I've experienced enough to know that living in a dream is better than reality; but at some point we need to come back into existence with everyone else.
Personally, although coming from someone who hasn't experienced a love as great as this seems to be, I think Catullus is a little blinded. Maybe his blindness is advantageous; perhaps it's better to feel like this in your own little world than be in reality where Lesbia may not love him as much as he loves her. Looking at what these poems are leading readers to believe, Lesbia was formerly married, had feelings for Catullus, and then left her marriage for Catullus. If she was able to love someone else while she was married, then she's able to do that to Catullus too. It's like how they say "a cheater is always a cheater," and Lesbia sort of reminds me of that quote. Even though she didn't necessarily cheat on her foolish hunsband, she was capable of it. Catullus needs to look at the reality of it and realize that not all love lasts forever, no matter how much faith you have in it. Even if you care about the person more than anything else - more than you cared about yourself - sometimes it's not enough. I know it sounds like something that not everyone would say, but it's the reality of life. I've experienced enough to know that living in a dream is better than reality; but at some point we need to come back into existence with everyone else.
Catullus 92
In this poem, Catullus makes the reader think back to an ealier poem, a poem in which he is hearing Lesbia talk badly about him to her husband. In that poem, Catullus really believes that even though Lesbia was talking badly about him, the fact that she was even bringing him up to her husband meant she had feelings for him. Fast forward however many weeks or months or years, even, to this poem: Catullus and Lesbia are in some sort of relationship. She never seems to stop talking about him, which is really teasing him. However, Catullus takes this as a good thing, considering he teases her all the time too. No matter what they're saying, Catullus knows that without Lesbia's love, he would die.
You can relate this poem to people today, as I try to do with many of Catullus's poems. I think through this poem, Catullus is proving how codependent we are on each other. If Lesbia doesn't love Catullus the way Catullus loves Lesbia, he wishes death upon himself; and if Catullus doesn't love Lesbia and as truly as he says he does, he again wishes death upon himself. Why is it that we think once we've fallen in love, we can't live without the other person? It's human nature - to not be able to remember our lives or how we lived before that person came in and changed our life for the better. Why is it that we think we've found our other half and if they were to disappear than our life would be empty without them? They're huge questions that this poem poses for me as a reader. They're also questions that are unfortunately seemingly impossible to answer. It's just a feeling that you can't get rid of; a feeling that once you let that person into your life, for you to imagine each day without them is an unbarable thought. The way Catullus cares for Lesbia is probably something along the lines of that, that he'd rather die than live every day without her love.
You can relate this poem to people today, as I try to do with many of Catullus's poems. I think through this poem, Catullus is proving how codependent we are on each other. If Lesbia doesn't love Catullus the way Catullus loves Lesbia, he wishes death upon himself; and if Catullus doesn't love Lesbia and as truly as he says he does, he again wishes death upon himself. Why is it that we think once we've fallen in love, we can't live without the other person? It's human nature - to not be able to remember our lives or how we lived before that person came in and changed our life for the better. Why is it that we think we've found our other half and if they were to disappear than our life would be empty without them? They're huge questions that this poem poses for me as a reader. They're also questions that are unfortunately seemingly impossible to answer. It's just a feeling that you can't get rid of; a feeling that once you let that person into your life, for you to imagine each day without them is an unbarable thought. The way Catullus cares for Lesbia is probably something along the lines of that, that he'd rather die than live every day without her love.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Catullus 5
I actually liked this poem a lot. It seemed a little out of Catullus's normal writing, because it didn't necessarily talk about howw obsessed with Lesbia he was; but instead it talked about life in general, and how you have this time you're given and what you do with it should matter.
In the time the character of Catullus has, he made it a point to be with Lesbia; and from now on, he says that he will kiss her and kiss her, so much so that people will be jealous. My favorite line from the poem was "Once our brief light does, we must sleep one eternal night." That's my favorite line from the poem because of how honest I think it is. I think people are too scared nowadays to talk about death. We're so concentrated on avoiding it that we even say "passed away" because we think "died" sounds too morbid or something. If we're not afraid to talk about life, then we shouldn't be so afraid to talk about what we all know is going to happen - we are all going to die in the end. I know that sounds awful, but Catullus is right - we need to "live it up" while we're here. If you love something, go after it. If there's a dream you want to follow, follow it. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't. I realize that I sound like some wannabe inspritational speaker, but Catullus got me thinking about it. Once the light goes out, it's out. A favorite quote of mine is this: "You only get to live once, but if you do it right once is enough." This quote reminds of Catullus's words. It's great advice, i think, because even though the advice is for fictional Catullus, anyone can relate to it, and that's what really matters.
In the time the character of Catullus has, he made it a point to be with Lesbia; and from now on, he says that he will kiss her and kiss her, so much so that people will be jealous. My favorite line from the poem was "Once our brief light does, we must sleep one eternal night." That's my favorite line from the poem because of how honest I think it is. I think people are too scared nowadays to talk about death. We're so concentrated on avoiding it that we even say "passed away" because we think "died" sounds too morbid or something. If we're not afraid to talk about life, then we shouldn't be so afraid to talk about what we all know is going to happen - we are all going to die in the end. I know that sounds awful, but Catullus is right - we need to "live it up" while we're here. If you love something, go after it. If there's a dream you want to follow, follow it. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't. I realize that I sound like some wannabe inspritational speaker, but Catullus got me thinking about it. Once the light goes out, it's out. A favorite quote of mine is this: "You only get to live once, but if you do it right once is enough." This quote reminds of Catullus's words. It's great advice, i think, because even though the advice is for fictional Catullus, anyone can relate to it, and that's what really matters.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Catullus 43
In this poem, Catullus is talking negatively about a girl, who is possibly his mistress. Perhaps I'm jumping to conclusions, but if he is having an affair with this supposedly unattractive woman, then that's completely selfish of him. He waited all this time to be with Lesbia; he waited for her and her husband to end it; he waited for her to openly love him and kiss him and want him back, and then he goes and cheats on her?! It's absurd.
Personally, if I were in a position where I had gotten the person I waited for what seemed like forever for, then I would absolutely do everything in my power to keep him. Certainly i would not cheat on him! If this is the case, then Lesbia's relationship with her husband ended for technically no reason; and if Catullus is willing to lose her so quickly, then why did he go to such great lengths to "get" her? It's unfathomable to me. Again, maybe I am jumping to Conclusions, but if I'm not than Catullus better do something to fix this, because cheating on someone is never the answer. The least you can do is be upfront with you girlfriend/boyfriend or huband/wife about it. I would think you owed them that much.
Personally, if I were in a position where I had gotten the person I waited for what seemed like forever for, then I would absolutely do everything in my power to keep him. Certainly i would not cheat on him! If this is the case, then Lesbia's relationship with her husband ended for technically no reason; and if Catullus is willing to lose her so quickly, then why did he go to such great lengths to "get" her? It's unfathomable to me. Again, maybe I am jumping to Conclusions, but if I'm not than Catullus better do something to fix this, because cheating on someone is never the answer. The least you can do is be upfront with you girlfriend/boyfriend or huband/wife about it. I would think you owed them that much.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Catullus 89
In this poem, it seems that we have jumped far from where we were in the last poem. Last I heard, Catullus thought he was in love with Lesbia, a woman who only talked negatively of him to her husband. Looking at this poem, it seems as though he is finally in a relationship of some sort with her. Maybe even a marriage? I say this because the poem talks of a love that he wishes would last forever. He refers to it, though, as a friendship he hopes will be everlasting. Maybe he doesn't want to get his hopes too high, or perhaps "ginx" it?
Also, he seems a bit apprehensive toward Lesbia's feelings for him. He prays to his god that Lesbia means the words she says and that she won't take them back. If he truly believed this relationship was what she really wanted, would he be praying to the gods for help? I dont think so..
I understand where he's coming from though. He's in this relationship, hoping to God that the other person feels as much for him and he does for her; but maybe knowing in the back of his head that no matter what, the other person may not even be capable of loving him as much as he loves her. He finally got what he wanted, so he should be happy, and I think he knows that he should feel happy. Yet, maybe he feels like everything's going so well that he should be watching out for something to go wrong to ruin this fatasy that has played out the way he wanted. Maybe at some point, everyone feels that way about someone. Catullus, once again, reached high school students centuries later.
Also, he seems a bit apprehensive toward Lesbia's feelings for him. He prays to his god that Lesbia means the words she says and that she won't take them back. If he truly believed this relationship was what she really wanted, would he be praying to the gods for help? I dont think so..
I understand where he's coming from though. He's in this relationship, hoping to God that the other person feels as much for him and he does for her; but maybe knowing in the back of his head that no matter what, the other person may not even be capable of loving him as much as he loves her. He finally got what he wanted, so he should be happy, and I think he knows that he should feel happy. Yet, maybe he feels like everything's going so well that he should be watching out for something to go wrong to ruin this fatasy that has played out the way he wanted. Maybe at some point, everyone feels that way about someone. Catullus, once again, reached high school students centuries later.
Catullus 83
Catullus, I've noticed, has an odd way of looking at love. He believes to be completely infatuated with - or even in love with - this married woman, Lesbia. First of all, knowing she's married, I personally wonder why Catullus would even pursue Lesbia? Also, how can he believe he is in love with Lesbia if she only speaks harsh words about him to her husband? Perhaps Lesbia is looking for ways to bring Catullus up in conversation, but can only do so if she talks of Catullus negatively. This way, her seemingly oblivious husband won't think anything of it.
Love, to me, is not having your tounge go numb or fire in your limbs; rather, it's not being able to stop smiling, or becoming speechless because of the "butterflies". It's so difficult to explain love. When you fall in love, you just know. There's no explaining it. I believe, however, that what Catullus describes is more along the lines of frustration that Lesbia is with her husband. He's so fed up with it, that the rage (which I think he mistakens for "love") feels like fire under his skin; he is so confused and frustrated that he is unable to form any words.
Love, to me, is not having your tounge go numb or fire in your limbs; rather, it's not being able to stop smiling, or becoming speechless because of the "butterflies". It's so difficult to explain love. When you fall in love, you just know. There's no explaining it. I believe, however, that what Catullus describes is more along the lines of frustration that Lesbia is with her husband. He's so fed up with it, that the rage (which I think he mistakens for "love") feels like fire under his skin; he is so confused and frustrated that he is unable to form any words.
Catullus 2a
In this poem, Catullus is addressing Lesbia breifly, then goes on to address the sparrow. In my opinion, Catullus seems a bit deperate for Lesbia to notice him. He not only watches her out of the corner, but now it seems as though he's in her back yard or something looking through the window at Lesbia and her pet sparrow. He confides in us that he wishes he could even be the sparrow. Personally, I think this poem makes Catullus look like a creepy guy who is almost stalking Lesbia. However, we don't know much about Catullus and Lesbia and their relationship, or if they even know each other that well. Catullus is reaching out for any part of her, looking for any way to be with her, as is demonstrated in this poem.
I think a lot of people can understand what it's like to want to be a part of someone's life, in any way, shape, or form. Sometimes we'd give everything to be anything to that person. However, sometimes we also have to realize that we don't always get what we want; in fact, we may never get the thing we dream of. They say "good things come to those who wait", but personally, I know that's not always true. Just like how at times, bad things happen to good people for no reason. There's not always a clear reasoning behind everything. Relating this to the poem, Catullus may dream of Lesbia, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll get her in the end...no matter how long he waits. It's a painful thing to realize things don't always work out in your favor. Hopefully for Catullus, things work out for him and Lesbia.
I think a lot of people can understand what it's like to want to be a part of someone's life, in any way, shape, or form. Sometimes we'd give everything to be anything to that person. However, sometimes we also have to realize that we don't always get what we want; in fact, we may never get the thing we dream of. They say "good things come to those who wait", but personally, I know that's not always true. Just like how at times, bad things happen to good people for no reason. There's not always a clear reasoning behind everything. Relating this to the poem, Catullus may dream of Lesbia, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll get her in the end...no matter how long he waits. It's a painful thing to realize things don't always work out in your favor. Hopefully for Catullus, things work out for him and Lesbia.
Catullus 51
This poem Catullus clearly wrote with Sappho's poem in mind. It has a tone to it that is almost like a high school kid in Catullus's position. What I mean by this is that it can speak to us kids in high school and beyond high school and beyond high school. Catullus is watching a seemingly happy couple in a relationship, wishing he could be in that relationship with the girl (Lesbia) instead of the man she's with. At one point or another - whether you've already been in this position or not - you'll feel that way about someone. Maybe you'll like the person who's in a relationship; maybe you'll even fall in love with them. Either way, you'll know someone who blows your mind away - literally, it seems, in Catullus's case. You can't think about anyone else, the way Catullus is describing the feelings toward Lesbia. He found the words to be able to speak to kids centuries and centuries later, like me. Great poets are able to do that, and I believe Catullus is a great poet.
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