Analysis

Sulpicia's Playlist

Sulpicia, a notable Ancient Roman poet, stands out for her rare and poignant voice as one of the few surviving female poets from antiquity. Granddaughter of Cicero’s friend and confidante Servius Sulpicius Rufus and a member of a family closely linked with Emperor Augustus, Sulpicia’s work is a product of her time. Her intimate verses offer a unique glimpse into the life of a young Roman woman, making her poetry remarkably relevant today. The themes of love and heartbreak continue to reverberate and be showcased in the work of young girls today.

Sulpicia’s Playlist

brutal by Olivia Rodrigo
All Too Well (10 Minute Version) Taylor’s Version by Taylor Swift
Collide by Rachel Platten
Close to You by Gracie Abrams
teenage dream by Olivia Rodrigo
Taste by Sabrina Carpenter
Slut! Taylor’s Version by Taylor Swift

Sulpicia II:

“My hateful birthdays here, to be spent in sadness, / in the wretched country, and without Cerinthus.” (Lines 1-2)

Taylor Swift - All Too Well (10 Minute Version): “But then he watched me watch the front door all night, willin' you to come/And he said, "It's supposed to be fun turning twenty-one.”

Both lines reflect a sense of disillusionment and dissatisfaction with the circumstances surrounding their birthdays. Swift laments over her boyfriend not showing up to her 21st birthday party, while Sulpicia expresses distaste at being forced to spend her birthday in country, instead of with her boyfriend Cerinthus.

Sulpicia II: “Snatched away, I leave my mind and feelings here, / she whom coercion won’t allow to make her own decisions” (Lines 7-8)

Olivia Rodrigo - Brutal: “And I'm so sick of 17 / Where's my fucking teenage dream? / If someone tells me one more time / 'Enjoy your youth,' I'm gonna cry.”

Both Rodrigo and Sulpicia’s passages express frustration with the constraints and expectations placed upon young girls. Sulpicia’s lines about being forced into decisions are parallel to Rodrigo’s frustration over the unrealistic expectations of youth, and the lack of autonomy that comes with it.

Sulpicia IV: “Any toga, any whore loaded down by a basket of wool / is dearer to you than Sulpicia, Servius’s daughter. / But they’re anxious for me, those for whom the greatest / reason for grief is lest I give myself to an unworthy bed” (lines 3-6)

Sabrina Carpenter - Taste: “I heard you're back together and if that's true / You'll just have to taste me when he's kissin' you / If you want forever, and I bet you do / Just know you'll taste Carpenter and Sulpicia both explore themes of jealousy and value in romantic relationships. Sulpicia’s lament over her boyfriend’s new girl and her reassertion of her own self worth and value parallels Carpenter’s confronting her ex’s new relationship by highlighting her lack of insecurity.

Sulpicia VI: “Let me not be such a feverish passion to you, my love, / as I seem to have been a few days ago” (lines 1-2)

Tate Mcrae - Greedy: “I would want myself / Baby, please believe me / I'll put you through hell / Just to know me, yeah, yeah”

In Poem VI, Suplicia expresses regret at playing hard to get with her boyfriend, Cerinthus. “A few days ago,” she expressed similar views to McRae, however now her feelings have shifted…

Sulpicia VI: “If I’ve done anything in my foolish youth / which I’ve owned to regretting more / than leaving you, alone, last night / wishing to hide the desire inside me” (lines 3-6)

Gracie Abrams - Close to You: “I’d give up everything / To be close to you / Pull the trigger on the gun I gave you when we met / I wanna be close to you.”

Now, Sulpicia’s lines reflect the intensity and regret of youthful emotions. Her sadness over a dwindling connection with Cerinthus mirrors Abrams’s intense desire for closeness from someone she loves.

Sulpicia’s work, though rooted in the past, speaks to the timeless nature of youth and personal experience. Her poetry and this imagined playlist reveal how the core struggles and joys of being a young woman transcend time, linking her with contemporary voices and issues.

Catullus and Sulpicia

In both Catullus 5 and Sulpicia I, the poets confront societal judgments about their relationships and desire to transcend these criticisms. Through their verses, Catullus and Sulpicia both affirm a timeless rebellion against social judgment, celebrating their love as a private sanctuary away from the prying eyes of Roman society. While many Latin students are familiar with Catullus, less are familiar with the works of Sulpicia. This article aims not only to analyze the similarities between both of the poets, but to encourage readers to explore the rest of a brilliant young woman’s works.

In Catullus 5, Catullus urges his beloved Lesbia to disregard the harsh opinions of "very angry old men," emphasizing that their love should be cherished regardless of societal scrutiny. He advocates for a love so abundant and private that it overwhelms the critics, with thousands of kisses serving as a testament to their intimacy and defiance against the naysayers. By focusing on their affection rather than public opinion, Catullus and Lesbia reject the condemnation of their love.

Similarly, Sulpicia's poem reflects her unwavering determination to prioritize her own happiness over societal expectations. She celebrates the fulfillment of her romantic desires without shame or pretense. By sharing her love story candidly, Sulpicia challenges the conventional modesty expected of women and embraces her affection for Cerinthus. Her assertion that Venus has fulfilled her prayers further elucidates her belief that personal happiness should take precedence over social judgment.

With strikingly similar attitudes, Catullus and Sulpicia navigate the tension between personal joy and societal expectations. They use their poetry to assert that their private joys and loves are more significant than public criticism. Their works embody a shared defiance against the constraints of their societies, advocating for a love that exists beyond the reach of societal constraints.