Blog Post 7: Catullus and Gellius

                While Anne Carson’s analysis of Eros encapsulates only the desire exhibited in sexual relationships, the elements of a love-hate relationship are also present in Catullus’ relationship with Gellius as shown through poems 80, 91, and 116 of Green’s translation.

                In poem 80, Catullus playfully and rhetorically asks Gellius why “those oh-so-rosy/lips of [his] turn whiter than winter snow/ when [he] leaves home in the morning”. The reader becomes aware that this is a rhetorical question when Catullus answers for Gellius, first in the form of a rumor “that [Gellius] gobble[s] the swollen hugeness of mid-/maledom”, and then in the form of a conclusion because, “poor Victor’s ruptured/ groin shouts it, and the milked sperm-stains round your lips”. This assertion against Gellius’ manhood is also an assertion that he is not a true citizen of Rome. However, Catullus does not blatantly call Gellius a faggot or threaten to rape him the way that he does Aurelius and Furius in poem 16. This difference illustrates that Catullus is making fun of Gellius in a fraternal manner, rather than threatening him with aggressive, malicious intent.

                In poem 91, Catullus speaks to Gellius with clear feelings of betrayal. In line 1, he speaks somewhat to himself, asking, “Why did I hope you’d be loyal to me, Gellius, over/this miserable…love of ours?” The “love” refers to none other than Lesbia, with whom Gellius has also had sex. The fact that Catullus openly addresses Lesbia as “ours” means that while he is hurt that Gellius slept with Lesbia, he is relatively complacent. Nonetheless, Catullus takes the opportunity to hit Gellius with a fresh bit of invective when he says that, “because…she…was neither your mother nor your full/ sister…and…you and I had long enjoyed close friendship/ I didn’t think you’d find that sufficient cause.” Catullus insinuates that Gellius has sexual relations with his mother and his full sister on a regular basis. Thus, the fact that Lesbia was neither (and that they had a close enough relationship) made Catullus assume that Gellius would not sleep with Lesbia. It is clear that while it bothers Catullus that his friend slept with his love, he still cares for Gellius and sees him as somewhat of a child in the last line, where Catullus asserts: “such pleasure you get from any misdeed”. Essentially, Catullus is scolding Gellius for liking being bad, with no indication that he is anything but disappointed or has intention of getting back at Gellius for his “misdeed”.

                In poem 116, Catullus engages Gellius in a battle of poetic skill. Catullus says that Gellius is “forever trying/ to lob…hostile missiles at [Catullus’] head”. This is a similar idea to the war metaphors for poems used by Pindar when describing his poetry. However, instead of flying directly and forcefully, Gellius’ poems “lob” with less power or strength. Later, Catullus compares his works to those of Gellius, stating that “[Gellius] will be skewered by ours, and pay the price”. Thus, Catullus’ poems have a straight trajectory while Gellius’ have a rounded trajectory, giving greater strength and skill to those of Catullus. With regard to their relationship, this poem looks back on a time when Gellius and Catullus were literary friends. This is evident in the use of past tense moving to present tense by the end of the poem, and the recollection of a poetic battle that lasted throughout their friendship, but is soon to end.  

                Through his fights with Gellius yet continued friendship, Gellius and Catullus' "frenemy" relationship parallels the love-hate relationship described through Eros.