Document Type
Panel Presentation
Start Date
19-4-2019 3:30 PM
End Date
19-4-2019 4:45 PM
Keywords
Catullus, sexuality, Rome
Biography
Michaela Randolph is a sophomore humanities and Latin major at Marshall University.
Major
Humanities (Classical Studies), Latin
Advisor for this project
Dr. Christina Franzen
Abstract
Lesbia, a married woman and Catullus’ lover, is the muse of many poems in his collection. In a typical affair, the lover would have a distaste for the husband, but Catullus is no normal man. In poem 51, Catullus describes him in the type of way that Romans would use to describe a “good man,” placing him in the shoes of one who possesses virtue. But, there is also a sense of uneasiness with Catullus throughout the poem. Using words such as “videtur” and “aspexi” show that he has distanced himself from the events that are taking place between Lesbia and the man, whether that distance be emotional or physical; he even results to speaking to himself, showing that his intention is to stay hidden, like a voyeuristic individual who is watching a sexual act take place between a couple.
Virtue and Voyeurism: An Analysis of Catullus 51
Lesbia, a married woman and Catullus’ lover, is the muse of many poems in his collection. In a typical affair, the lover would have a distaste for the husband, but Catullus is no normal man. In poem 51, Catullus describes him in the type of way that Romans would use to describe a “good man,” placing him in the shoes of one who possesses virtue. But, there is also a sense of uneasiness with Catullus throughout the poem. Using words such as “videtur” and “aspexi” show that he has distanced himself from the events that are taking place between Lesbia and the man, whether that distance be emotional or physical; he even results to speaking to himself, showing that his intention is to stay hidden, like a voyeuristic individual who is watching a sexual act take place between a couple.
