The Elegiac Passion: Jealousy in Roman Love Elegy (Emotions of the Past)

The passions were a topic of widespread interest in antiquity, as has been shown by the recent interest and research in the emotions in Greek and Roman literature. Until now, however, there has been very little focus on love elegy or its relation to contemporary philosophical positions. Yet Roman love elegy depends crucially upon the passions: without love, anger, jealousy, pity, and fear, elegy could not exist at all. The Elegiac Passion provides the first investigation of the ancient representation of jealousy in its Roman context, as well as its significance for Roman love elegy itself. The poems of Propertius, Tibullus, and Ovid are built upon the presumed existence of a love triangle involving poet, mistress, and rival: the very structure of elegy thus creates an ideal scenario for the arousal of jealousy. This study begins by examining the differences between the elegiac treatment of love and that of philosophy, whether Stoic or Epicurean. Ruth Caston uses the main chapters to address the depiction of jealousy in the love relationship and explores in detail the role of the senses, the role of readers--both those internal and external to the poems--, and the use of violence as a response to jealousy. Elegy provides a multi-faceted perspective on jealousy that gives us details and nuances of the experience of jealousy not found elsewhere in ancient literature. She argues that jealousy turns centrally on the question of fides . The fear of broken obligations and the consequent lack of trust are relevant not only to the love affair that forms the subject of these poems but to many other relationships represented in elegy as well. Overall, she demonstrates that jealousy is not merely the subject matter of elegy: it creates and structures elegy's various generic features. Jealousy thus provides a much more satisfying explanation for the specific character of Roman elegy than the various theories about its origins that have typically been put forward. The Passions Were A Topic Of Widespread Interest In Antiquity, As Evidenced By The Recent Surge Of Interest And Research In The Emotions In Greek And Roman Literature. Until Now, However, There Has Been Very Little Focus On Love Elegy Or Its Relation To Contemporary Philosophical Positions. Yet Roman Love Elegy Depends Crucially Upon The Passions: Without Love, Anger, Jealousy, Pity, And Fear, Elegy Could Not Exist At All. The Elegiac Passion Provides The First Investigation Of The Ancient Representation Of Jealousy In Its Roman Context, As Well As Its Significance For Roman Love Elegy Itself. The Poems Of Propertius, Tibullus, And Ovid Are Built Upon The Presumed Existence Of A Love Triangle Involving Poet, Mistress, And Rival: The Very Structure Of Elegy Thus Creates An Ideal Scenario For The Arousal Of Jealousy. This Study Begins By Examining The Differences Between The Elegiac Treatment Of Love And That Of Philosophy, Whether Stoic Or Epicurean.^ Ruth Caston Uses The Main Chapters To Address The Depiction Of Jealousy In The Love Relationship And Explores In Detail The Role Of The Senses, The Role Of Readers - Both Those Internal And External To The Poems -, And The Use Of Violence As A Response To Jealousy. Elegy Provides A Multi-faceted Perspective On Jealousy That Gives Us Details And Nuances Of The Experience Of Jealousy Not Found Elsewhere In Ancient Literature. She Argues That Jealousy Turns Centrally On The Question Of Fides. The Fear Of Broken Obligations And The Consequent Lack Of Trust Are Relevant Not Only To The Love Affair That Forms The Subject Of These Poems But To Many Other Relationships Represented In Elegy As Well. Overall, She Demonstrates That Jealousy Is Not Merely The Subject Matter Of Elegy: It Creates And Structures Elegy's Various Generic Features.^ Jealousy Thus Provides A Much More Satisfying Explanation For The Specific Character Of Roman Elegy Than The Various Theories About Its Origins That Have Typically Been Put Forward. -- Publisher's Website. Rival Authorities: Elegy And Philosophy On Love -- The Nature Of Jealousy -- The Triggers Of Jealousy: Suspicions And Evidence -- Responses To Jealousy: Violence And Restraint -- The Lover As Poet: Trust And Distrust Of Poets -- What Jealousy Is About: Threats To Fides. Ruth Rothaus Caston. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The passions were a topic of widespread interest in antiquity, as has been shown by the recent research in the emotions in Greek & Roman literature. Until now, however, there has been very little focus on love elegy or its relation to contemporary philosophical positions. Yet Roman love elegy depends crucially upon the passions: without love, anger, jealousy, pity & fear, elegy could not exist at all. The Elegiac Passion provides the 1st investigation of the ancient representation of jealousy in its Roman context, as well as its significance for Roman love elegy itself. The poems of Propertius, Tibullus & Ovid are built upon the presumed existence of a love triangle involving poet, mistress & rival: the very structure of elegy thus creates an ideal scenario for the arousal of jealousy. This study begins by examining the differences between the elegiac treatment of love & that of philosophy, Stoic & Epicurean. Caston uses the main chapters to address the depiction of jealousy in the love relationship & explores in detail the role of the senses, the role of readers--both those internal & external to the poems--, & the use of violence as a response to jealousy. Elegy provides a multifaceted perspective on jealousy that gives details & nuances of the experience of jealousy not found elsewhere in ancient literature. She argues that jealousy turns centrally on the question of fides. The fear of broken obligations & the consequent lack of trust are relevant not only to the love affair that forms the subject of these poems but to many other relationships represented in elegy as well. Overall, she demonstrates that jealousy isn't merely the subject matter of elegy: it creates & structures elegy's various generic features. Jealousy thus provides a much more satisfying explanation for the specific character of Roman elegy than the various theories about its origins that have typically been put forward. Rival authorities: elegy & philosophy on love The nature of jealousy The triggers of jealousy: suspicions & evidence Responses to jealousy: violence & restraint The lover as poet: trust & distrust of poets What jealousy is about: threats to fides MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict Cover 1 Contents 8 Preface 10 Introduction 14 THE EMOTIONS IN GENERAL 17 DEFINITIONS AND METHODOLOGY 20 THE DISEASE THAT CANNOT BE NAMED 23 WHY ROMAN ELEGY IS DISTINCTIVE 26 CHAPTER OVERVIEW 28 1. Rival Authorities: Elegy and Philosophy on Love 32 THE LOVER’S PLIGHT 33 THE DIAGNOSIS: LOVE AS ILLNESS 40 THE ELEGIAC CURE 45 CONCLUSIONS 56 2. The Nature of Jealousy 60 THE SYMPTOMS OF JEALOUSY 61 Expectations of Fidelity (Propertius 1.3) 62 Unrestrained Suspicions (Propertius 1.3) 64 Vehement Reactions (Propertius 3.15) 68 Jealousy Out in the Open (Ovid Amores 2.7) 70 Gender and Showing One’s Feelings 72 WHEN JEALOUSY IS APPROPRIATE (OR NOT) 74 When Jealousy Is Counterproductive 74 When Jealousy Is Demanded 76 CONCLUSIONS 85 3. The Triggers of Jealousy: Suspicions and Evidence 88 FEMALE SKEPTICISM 90 MALE CREDULITY 95 CONCLUSIONS 103 4. Responses to Jealousy: Violence and Restraint 104 FEMALE AGGRESSION 106 MALE ATTEMPTS AT SELF-CONTROL 113 LOSS OF SELF-CONTROL 116 CRIMES OF PASSION 119 CONCLUSIONS 122 5. The Lover as Poet: Trust and Distrust of Poets 124 INTERNAL READERS: LOVE POETS AS RIVALS 126 Suspicious Monitoring 134 Boasts and Threats 135 EXTERNAL READERS: VICARIOUS PARTICIPANTS IN JEALOUSY 140 Visualization and Identification 141 Doubts and Suspicions 145 CONCLUSIONS 149 6. What Jealousy Is About: Threats to Fides 152 THE IMPORTANCE OF FIDES 154 THE RANGE OF FIDES 156 Civil War (Propertius 1.21 and 1.22) 156 Family and History (Propertius 2.6) 157 Rome and the East (Propertius 3.13) 162 CONCLUSIONS 167 Conclusion: A Genre Structured by Jealousy 168 Bibliography 172 Index 184 A 184 B 184 C 184 D 184 E 184 F 185 G 185 H 185 I 185 J 185 K 185 L 185 M 185 N 186 O 186 P 186 R 186 S 187 T 187 V 187 W 187 Z 187 The passions were a topic of widespread interest in antiquity. This is a study on their role in Roman love elegy (1st c. BCE ), a genre rife with passions and jealousy in particular. Jealousy does appear in a number of earlier genres, but never with the centrality and importance it has in elegy. This book offers an exceptional opportunity to investigate the ancient representation of jealousy in its Roman context, as well as its significance for Roman love elegy itself. The narrators portray themselves as poets and as experts of love, championing a view of love that stands in marked contrast to the criticisms that Stoic and Epicurean philosophers had raised. Elegy provides rich evidence of the genesis and development of erotic jealousy: we find suspicions and rumors of infidelity, obsessive attention to visual clues, and accusations and confrontations with the beloved. The Roman elegists depict the susceptibility and reactions to jealousy along gendered lines, with an asymmetric representation of skepticism and belief, violence and restraint. But jealousy has ramifications well beyond the erotic affair. Underlying jealousy are fears about fides or trust and the vulnerability of human relations. These are prominent in love relationships, of course, but the term has broader application in the Roman world, and the poetic narrator often extends his fears about trust into many other dimensions of life, including friendship, religion, and politics. The infidelity rampant in the love affair indicates a more general breakdown of trust in other human relations. All of these features have implications for the genre itself. Many of the distinctive elements of Roman elegy—its first-person narration, obsessive recordkeeping, and role-playing—can be seen to derive from the thematic concern with jealousy. As such, jealousy provides a new way of understanding the distinctive features of Roman love elegy The Elegiac Passion is a study of the central role of jealousy in Roman love elegy, both the detailed ways in which it is represented and the ramifications of these features for the nature of the genre itself.