5

After reading this poem and after our discussion in class, I think Catullus (the poet and character) has fears about jealousy and people gossipping. Those fears are shown not only in this poem but the other poems we've read, too. This poem is the most blatant in revealing his underlying anxieties about gossip so it makes sense that I'm realizing this now. He flat out says he doesn't want people to gossip about them. He makes sure to note that there will be thousands of kisses but also that he doesn't want anybody to know how many kisses so that nobody will be able 'invidEre'.
In poem 51 he gets very jealous of 'that guy'. As well as in poem 2, it almost seems as if he is jealous of Lesbia's sparrow!
My point is jealousy is almost always present and referenced in his poems so obviously it is something that bothers him and is constantly on his mind. Maybe he cares too much about what poeple think? Or people in his time care a lot about what others are doing?