For my fifth analysis I have elected to find a poem on the subject of death and mourning. I have seen many Roman authors take different approaches to the subject to death and dying, some find it very appropriate to mourn on many spiritual and social levels, others let it serve as a reminder to live life to the fullest; I hope to see what Catullus felt on the matter. Thus I have chosen his 101st dedicated to the death of his brother.
Ultimately, Catullus here is grieving and respectful. He seems distraught carrying out these, " wretched funeral rites" and complains about how he is speaking, "in vain to silent ashes." This language obviously implicates natural frustration along the process to acceptance of his brother's death. Sadness is the dominating emotion, "a gift of sadness in the rites, accept them, flowing with many brotherly tears, And for eternity, my brother, hail and farewell." Ultimately this is a very Roman, respectful goodbye. More than Roman, it is a very simple, human reaction. I was going to talk about more stoicism, but I think I've stumbled upon the actuality of the situation: Catullus is once again using poetry to instead of layering complex philosophy simply express feelings and the plight of the human condition. I believe this is what makes Catullus who he is as a writer.
I spent a fair bit of time contemplating the implications of the lines,
"Since fortune has borne you, yourself, away from me.
Oh, poor brother, snatched unfairly away from me," contemplating how Catullus used the personified "fortune" as an outside force that while beyond Catullus's control has not regard for justice, "unfairly" snatching his brother away. How many times have saddened heroes cried, O cruel Fate" at the loss of a comrade? Catullus does not talk about the inevitability of death, life after death or lack thereof, family ties and living up to brother's wishes, ancestors, pietas, or anything of the sort. My first impression was that frankly this approach is quite boring. But it is realistic, mundane, more human than any other approch, and that is what Catullus captures in his art and poetry.
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