1. School System-“I have never
examined the entrails of a frog.”
a. Just as in
the United States, Juvenal mocks Rome’s educational system. He dramatically
hyperbolizes Rome’s situation by saying that he, as a student, never even
studied the anatomy of an animal. Clearly, Juvenal is demonstrating his disgust
at the school system.
2. Health Care System-“Here in Rome
the son of free-born parents has to give the wall to some rich man's slave; for
that other will give as much as the whole pay of a legionary tribune to enjoy
the chance favours of a Calvina[17] or a Catiena,[17] while you, when the face
of some gay-decked harlot takes your fancy, scarce venture to hand Chione down
from her lofty chair.”
a. In the United
States today, many rich bemoan how their taxes go to pay for the poor man’s
health care. Likewise, Juvenal criticizes how “the son of free-born parents has
to give the wall to some rich man’s slave.” A true citizen has to help someone
who has a lower-income than him and that, in Juvenal’s view, should not be
tolerated.
3. Nutritional Problems-“It is no easy
matter, anywhere, for a man to rise when poverty stands in the way of his
merits: but nowhere is the effort harder than in Rome, where you must pay a big
rent for a wretched lodging, a big sum to fill the bellies of your slaves, and
buy a frugal dinner for yourself.”
a. Juvenal says
that he intends to leave Rome because he can only “buy a frugal dinner for”
himself here. Likewise, many in the United States can only afford cheap
dollar-menu items with no nutritional value.
4. Mental Health: “What else can
you do when attacked by a madman stronger than yourself?”
a. Juvenal
questions what would happen if a “madman” came at you. By using this term,
“madman,” Juvenal demonstrates how he also does not understand mental
illnesses. He frivolously uses the term “madman” to describe a dangerous man
and yet, he does not know the mental health of that person. Likewise, not all
mentally ill persons are dangerous. Thus, just as in the United States, Juvenal
demonstrates an ignorance regarding mental illness.
5. Literary Loss-"What
can I do at Rome? I cannot lie; if a book is bad, I cannot praise it, and beg
for a copy.”
a. Juvenal
recognizes that there are poor quality books in Rome. While the Romans
certainly did not suffer from using clipped sentences on Facebook, they still
struggled, apparently, to create noteworthy literary texts.
