Analysis of Catullus poem 45

Septimius’ and Acme’s approaches towards love for each other in Catullus’ poem 45 appear different from and somewhat the same to Roman’s men’s and women’s relationships in typical Roman marriages. The many elisions speeding Septimius’ words to Acme, “Perdite amo atque amare” and his use of a superlative adjective, “Plurimum” show his excitement in seeing love for Acme as an adventure; he would take risks to love her. Acme’s alliterative reply with a comparative adjective and some ablatives, “Ut multo mihi maior acriorque ignis mollibus ardet” show her deep and perhaps more faithful devotion to him. Acme’s and Septimius’ passionate love for one another suggests that they are in an illicit love affair. Roman society, however, expected Roman men and women to marry not for romance, but to produce children, and Roman women had to stay more faithful towards their husbands than men did toward their wives. Though not all Roman men acted unfaithful to their wives and mutual romance could eventually develop in Roman marriage, but one must scrutinize ancient texts because men wrote them, which obscured female perspectives about marriage. Acme’s devotion to Septimius reflects an inscription in which a man praises his wife, "She...lived faithful to her faithful husband...never shirked her duties" (CIL 1.2.1221). Septimius’ love seems more self-sacrificial than how some married Roman men acted toward unmarried women; in fact, Ovid writes in his The Art of Love about how Roman men can start extramarital love affairs with other women. The love between Septimius and Acme corresponds to and differs from typical Roman connubial life.