Blog 5 Part 2

In Rome, every one dresses smartly, above his means, and sometimes something more than what is enough is taken out of another man's pocket. This failing is universal here: we all live in a state of pretentious poverty." This quote demonstrates the similarity between Rome and our society in that there is a push to be better than your neighbor and this often leads to debt. People are so caught up in having the newest fashion that they spend more more than they have. Juvenal does not address the issue of unnecessary war, but this quote also reminds me of that issue in that it goes back to irresponsible and leads to debt.




"Besides all this, there is nothing sacred to his lusts: not the matron of the family, nor the maiden daughter, not the as yet unbearded son-in-law to be, not even the as yet unpolluted son; if none of these be there, he will debauch his friend's grandmother." This problem is similar to the same sex marriage issue that we have in our society today. Although the Romans were not advocating for actual marriage, we see that the moral decay and breakdown of the family are similar to what our society is facing now.


"Quick of wit and of unbounded impudence, they are as ready of speech as Isaeus,[9] and more torrential. Say, what do you think that fellow there to be? He has brought with him any character you please; grammarian, orator, geometrician; painter, trainer, or rope-dancer; augur, doctor or astrologer" Juvenal does not really address unemployment, but this quote made me think of the various skills that people  have, but that are not put to use, in a way reminding me of the issue of unemployment and dependence on government welfare we see in our country today.


I cannot abide, Quirites, a Rome of Greeks; and yet what fraction of our dregs comes from Greece? The Syrian Orontes has long since poured into the Tiber, bringing with it its lingo and its manners, its flutes and its slanting harp-strings[6]; bringing too the timbrels of the breed, and the trulls who are bidden ply their trade at the Circus. Out upon you, all ye that delight in foreign strumpets with painted headdresses! Your country clown, Quirinus, now trips to dinner in Greek-fangled slippers,[7] and wears niceterian[7] ornaments upon a ceromatic[7] neck!" This quote reminds me of the issue of illegal immigration that we face in our country today. In the U.S. we see changes come about to accommodate the needs of foreigners coming in from other countries. (For example street signs that are in English and Spanish.)