Jack+Allard



When asked to relate the story of The Aeneid to a work of modern art, I immediately though of a movie filled with battle, love, and nationalism. The movie I thought of was Braveheart directed by Mel Gibson. The reason I chose this was because the theme of nationalism plays a big role in both stories. The Aeneid was written in order to create a nationalistic society in Rome, and in Braveheart the theme of nationalism is clearly the main point being made. First off, in the Aeneid, written by Virgil, the main character named Aeneas travels to Italy and goes on adventures, and ultimately founds Rome. Of course the story is fictional, but Augustus had Virgil write it in order to make the Roman people more nationalistic and furthermore make them support his views on war and domination. To show the founding of Rome in a mythological way was the best way to get it across to the people of that time period. In the movie Braveheart, William Wallace (Mel Gibson) is a Scottish knight who is fed up with the rule of King Edward of England. He decides to attempt to revolt against the English rule after English soldiers come and murder his wife. He brings a bunch of people willing to join his militia together in order to fight a war with the English. The people who joined all had the same motivation; they wanted freedom. They had a nationalistic view because they loved Scotland and wanted the land to be ruled only by Scottish rule, not English. They were willing to fight for their land and rebel against the English army. After many different betrayals and battles, the Scots gain their freedom by never giving up and always fighting for their freedom. Secondly, one of the most famous quotes of the movie was when William Wallace screams to his troops “they may take our lives, but they will never take our freedom!” This quote shows the rebels’ motivation for fighting. They are not fighting because they have to, or because someone told them to, they are fighting because they want to get back something that was taken form them- their freedom. Their country was taken from them along with their freedom and they will risk anything to get it back even if that means fighting to the death. This is a perfect example of nationalism in the Scots and in the Aenied, a book written to increase nationalism in Rome, the same type of motivation is seen. The story of Aeneas was created in order to make people proud of the country founded by the great man who went through many adventures to do so. The theme of nationalism is clear in both works of art and the two relate accordingly.

Ovid’s poem “The Death of Achilles” relates to the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey. There are a few reason why I chose this relationship but the main reason is that in the conclusion of both, the character who was seemingly invincible ends up dying a terrible death. Kesey’s novel is about an outgoing young man named McMurphy who gets sent to a mental hospital because he plead insanity in a court trial. In the hospital an evil nurse named Nurse Ratchet uses her manipulative power to control the patients. When McMurphy arrives though, she begins to lose her power. The main thing that is similar in these two pieces is the change or metamorphoses of the main characters. In Ovid’s Book 12 which is about the Trojan War, Achilles starts out as this invincible power who can win any battle whenever he wants. Ovid even describes Achilles as “the invincible captain of battle”. The same goes for McMurphy, he challenges Nurse Ratchet’s power by taking over the patients and giving them the freedom to live their lives without listening to the nurse’s rules. This shows that McMurphy cannot be beaten by Nurse Ratchet and all of the patients expect McMurphy to fight the battles with her for them. However, Ovid explains “(Achilles) you are conquered” and by a coward. The change in Achilles is that he went from and invincible force to a weak, dead, has been who was conquered by someone lesser than him. The same goes for McMurphy. He starts out the same as Achilles did, however, in the end Nurse Ratchet, a coward, hides behind her fellow employees and gives McMurphy a lobotomy which puts him in a zombie-like state. In the end he is killed by a fellow patient to be put out of his misery. McMurphy went from a know it all, outgoing, unbeatable character to a weak, pathetic character. His change is the exact same as Achilles’ especially since both ended up dying on account of a cowardly and weaker character. Another thing that is similar about these two pieces is that the antagonist also goes through a metamorphoses. At first Paris was known as a “cowardly thief” but with the help of a greater power, Apollo, he was able to conquer the unbeatable Achilles. The same goes for Nurse Ratchet. Alone she could not beat McMurphy, but with the help of the other nurses and the doctors she was able to send him to receive a lobotomy and lose his personality and his life. She ended up beating the invincible power that stood in her way for so long just like Paris and his enemy Achilles. The two characters changed from a once weak and lonely individual to an outgoing, help seeking person who sought vengeance on his or her enemy. Ovid did point out that “his fame lives” describing Achilles and again this is true in both cases. In One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest one of the mental patients, Bromden, fled the hospital at the end of the book because of McMurphy’s teachings. This proves that McMurphy will live on in Bromden’s memories and in his actions. Both story lines end in similar ways and both sets of characters change in similar ways which is what makes these two pieces so perfect for this wiki topic.

In Book 1 of Ovid's metamorphoses there is a section titled "The Flood". I have noticed that this passage has a lot of similarities to the bible story "Noah's Ark and the Flood". Along with similar titles the two are similar in other ways. In Ovid's story Zeus asks his brother Neptune to send a flood to all of Earth to destroy all living things on it. Animals drown, humans struggle to swim through it, and birds fall into the water because there is no place to land and rest their wings. In the biblical sotry, God decides that man is evil and wants to send a flood over the entire world so that there can be a fresh start. God tells Noah about this flood and has him construct a giant ark in which he will take two of each animal on it so that each species can still live on afterwards. Noah spends 40 days and 40 nights until the flood rests.

In a later passage, Ovid writes about Deucalion and his wife Pyrrha and how they were the only two humans left on Earth who had survived the flood. He decides to rid the world of this flood and lets them live the rest f their lives. This is similar to the bible story because Noah and his family had the same fate that Deucalion and his wife. They were sentenced to live in a world with no other humans and were expected to reproduce and keep the species going. The similarities of these two stories brings up the question "Did this really happen?". Of course there could always be opposing views on this topic, however, since the two are so similar there could be a possibility that there was a flood thousands of years ago that wiped out many human beings lives. Since it was written in the bible and in Book 1 of Ovid's metamorphoses, this could be a plausible idea.

In literature, water symbolizes life and rebirth. It is clear that in both of these stories that the water does in fact symbolize rebirth. Zeus sends the flood in order to wipe out all living things which seems like the water is about death, but when he realizes Deucalion and his wife are the last two living people on Earth he decides to rid the planet of the flood and let them live in a new world. The same happens in the biblical version. God flushes out all of the evil people in the world and lets Noah have a fresh start and live in this sinless new world. The symbolism in the two show that the authors created this piece of artwork that is suppose to get the reader to think about the deeper meaning behind the story. They did not write it just to tell a story, they wrote it to portray a message and get the reader to imagine what is actually happening in the story. This proves that the art of literature derives from symbolism and is a very common art.

The song "We Can Work it Out" by The Beatles relates to Horace poem 2.10 because of the message they both send. Horace's philosophy has always been about living life with a steady head and to not envy others. He also believes that if things get bad there is always another day that can get better. He wants the reader to understand that they can live life to the fullest by keeping a level head and giving it your all. This is where the song coincides with Horace's philosophy.

First off, Horace says "olim non sic erit" or "someday it will not be" regarding the harsh winters Jupiter brings every single year. He is implying that bad things such as the harsh winter Jupiter brings every year are always going to happen and theres nothing we as humans can do about it, but he also says someday it will not be. This shows that by giving it time, things will work out. And this is the exact message of the song "We Can Work it Out", whose title pretty much explains itself. Also, the lyrics say "Life is very short and there's no time for fussing and fighting" which coincides with Horace's quote because Horace implies that theres no time for complaining and feeling sorry about yourself because something bad happened, when instead you should live life in the moment and make things better and work it out.

Lastly, Horace starts by saying "dum procellas cautus horrescis" or "while cautious you dread the storms" (Poem 2.10 Lines 4-5). He implies through symbolism that you have to be careful and cautious in all situations. However Horace does not want you to stop trying all together, but instead you must take some risks while still being cautious. In the song by The Beatles the lyrics say "Run the risk of knowing that our love may soon be gone" implying that if they keep fighting then their love may be lost. However, they also say "We can work it out" showing that they need to take this risk because if they don't they never even had a chance. So by taking risks with a cautious approach things will work out according to Horace and The Beatles.

media type="youtube" key="ZNfuTDbdKoY" width="425" height="350" Verse #1

 Try to see it my way,  Do I have to keep on talking till I can't go on?  While you see it your way,  Run the risk of knowing that our love may soon be gone.

 Chorus:

 We can work it out,  We can work it out.

 Verse #2  Think of what you're saying.  You can get it wrong and still you think that it's all right.  Think of what I'm saying,  We can work it out and get it straight, or say good night.

 Chorus:  We can work it out,  We can work it out.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"> Bridge: <span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"> Life is very short, and there's no time <span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"> For fussing and fighting, my friend. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"> I have always thought that it's a crime, <span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"> So I will ask you once again.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"> Verse #3 <span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"> Try to see it my way, <span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"> Only time will tell if I am right or I am wrong. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"> While you see it your way <span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"> There's a chance that we might fall apart before too long.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"> Chorus: <span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"> We can work it out, <span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"> We can work it out.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"> Bridge: <span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"> Life is very short, and there's no time <span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"> For fussing and fighting, my friend. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"> I have always thought that it's a crime, <span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"> So I will ask you once again.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"> Verse #4 <span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"> Try to see it my way, <span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"> Only time will tell if I am right or I am wrong. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"> While you see it your way <span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"> There's a chance that we might fall apart before too long.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"> Chorus: <span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"> We can work it out, <span style="font-family: Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal;"> We can work it out.

media type="youtube" key="YLHR2tVrDiQ" width="425" height="350" The song Mr. Brightside, by The Killers, relates to poem 77 because it is about how jealousy can overtake a person. In the song Brandon Flowers (the lead singer) sings about how he can't stop thinking about his ex-girlfriend being with her new boyfriend. He looks back on his relationship and wonders why "only a kiss" could make him feel so bad. "It started out with a kiss", obviously led to other things, and this is just like Lesbia and Catullus. They started out using each other for sex, but then Catullus grew attached to her. Flowers says "It's all in my head" which shows he's trying not to think about it but then he says his "stomach is sick" which shows he can't stop thinking about it. In Catullus 77 Rufus, his supposed friend, is now together with Lesbia and Catullus is very jealous and angry at Rufus. Just like in the song Mr. Brightside Catullus feels like his stomach is sick by saying "consuming my guts". This is the feeling both Catullus and the song have in common is that they feel betrayed. Catullus also says Rufus "stole the cruel poison of our life" which shows that Lesbia is tearing them apart. The poison symbolizes death and pain just like the song talks about how he can't look "it's killing me", knowing his girlfriend is with someone else is "killing him". These harsh words prove how in love each of these men were with their girlfriend. One difference between the song and Catullus 77 that really highlights Catullus' unique love for Lesbia is that in the song the singer says "but it's just the price I pay" implying that he deserves this feeling and that he understands it is his own fault that the girl left him. On the other hand Catullus will never admit that part of the reason he and Lesbia broke up was because he was so clingy. Catullus blames it all on Rufus by saying he has "crept under me" showing that this is all Rufus's fault that Lesbia broke up with Catullus and has nothing to do with any other problem the two might have had. Although this is a difference it really highlights Catullus' unique way of thinking almost in a selfish kind of way.

media type="youtube" key="rp4UwPZfRis" width="425" height="350"

The song Unfaithful, by Rihanna, relates to poem 72 because it talks about how she feels bad about leaving him because he might kill himself. Catullus in this poem is obviously depressed because the entire poem is based around his hatred of Lesbia. He says,”…and even if I am burned excessively, to me however you are much more worthless and unimportant”. These harsh words show how depressed and angry he is. This song shows Lesbia’s point of view, though, because Rihanna is singing about how she hurt her boyfriend to the point where he gets depressed and contemplates suicide. She is the reason and in both cases the girl hurts the boy. Also, Rihanna says she is “happy with some other guy” which is the case with Lesbia. Lesbia is married and needs to go back to her husband so she finally ended things with Catullus, and she also “gets around” so Catullus knows she will be intimate with many other men and that kills him. That part hurts Catullus the most, the fact that she isn’t going to feel bad and feel remorse about dumping Catullus hurts him so much because he wants her to feel as bad as he does. In Rihanna’s song she identifies that her ex-boyfriend will feel terrible about her going to another guy, but she still leaves. These two cases are very similar in that sense too. In Catullus’ poem he says “..you did not wish to hold Jupiter before me” which is a dramatic analogy saying that Lesbia once said that she would never leave Catullus for anyone. By her lying, Catullus was even more hurt. He thought he could trust her but in the end he could not. In Rihanna’s song she also lies to him by saying, “I say I won’t be long just hanging with the girls” which is another form of lying. She tells him she’s going somewhere when actually she is going to see the other guy. The theme of the girl lying to the guy is very evident in the poem and in the song.

This is a picture from the 1996 remake of the story Romeo and Juliet so it is pretty modern. This picture reminds me of Catullus's poem 5 because in the play Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, two lovers are forbidden to see one another just like Catullus and Clodia. Poem 5 and 7 are about how Catullus has to say goodbye to his lover as she leaves to go back to her husband whom she is cheating on with Catullus. The basis of the two story lines are similar because a boy and a girl love one another but they are not suppose to be seeing each other.The only difference between the two stories is that Clodia is cheating on her own husband with Catullus which is the reason she is not suppose to see him, and in Romeo and Juliet the two cannot see each other because of a feud between the two families. []