Catullus On Roman Life

The ancient Romans are known for placing value in a virtue called gravitas. To possess this virtue, a Roman must be disciplined and obedient, be physically strong, and be loyal to Rome. The Romans also valued empirical reasoning and logic over decisions based on emotions. In addition to these moral and physical standards for men, the Romans also stressed the importance of social standing. Money and power, especially political power, were coveted by all Romans. In the eyes of the Romans, a model man would possess great wealth, hold a significant position in the government or military, and have a strong mind and body. The great Roman poet Catullus defied these expectations for a Roman man in almost every sense, challenging the values and mindset

He continued to deviate from the perspective of a typical man through his poetry. His compositions were full of passion and emotion (Mastin). By writing with such a personal and emotional style, he revealed himself to be an anomaly among other Roman men. Typical Roman men “did not analyze their thoughts and feelings,” judging themselves based on the opinions of others rather than personal introspection (“Roman Society, Roman Life”). Catullus challenged this aspect of Roman life by basing his poetry off of ideas concerning his own emotions and “psychological insight[s]” (Mastin). He favored Epicurean philosophy over Roman values. Epicureanism promotes a lifestyle in which one is constantly in pursuit of a “pleasurable life” (“Catullus”). Catullus sought fulfillment through the expression of romantic love while most Romans found fulfillment in achieving military or political influence. Therefore, Catullus was “criticized in [his] time and [...] misunderstood in our own” because his lifestyle contrasted so dramatically against other men in his lifetime (“Catullus”). Catullus was an deviation from the typical Roman way of life. He represented the later emergence of more expressive and emotional works of art that originate from personal feelings and experiences of the artist. As a man out of his time, he may have appeared abnormal to his peers. However, as the values of mankind have evolved, emotion and passion are now considered necessary to the formation of true art. Although he may have been rejected and in his own time, his expressive style has influenced modern poets and encouraged the inclusion of emotion in