Leuconoë , don’t ask, we never know, what fate the gods grant us,
whether your fate or mine, don’t
waste your time on Babylonian,
futile, calculations. How much
better to suffer what happens,
whether Jupiter gives us more
winters or this is the last one,
one debilitating the Tyrrhenian Sea
on opposing cliffs.
Be wise, and mix the wine, since
time is short: limit that far-reaching hope.
The envious moment is flying now,
now, while we’re speaking:
Seize the day, place in the hours
that come as little faith as you can. (Horace)
Ancient
Romans believed life was too short to not enjoy its perks. This is why we (and
they) often use the Latin phrase “Carpe
diem” which means seize the day (i.e. live life to the fullest). Quintus
Horatius Flaccus, or Horace, was the first poet to introduce this phrase in his
poem Odes.
1. [Horace]
However, Romans probably
new how to enjoy life before Horace was born because of their various forms of
entertainment. Nowadays, there is a well known movie that describes this phrase
perfectly is the movie called “Seize the Day,” based on the novel written by
Saul Bellow, directed by Fielder Cook in 1989, and starring Robin Williams. The
movie tells us the story of a Salesman Tommy Wilhelm (Williams) who lost his
job, and goes back to his family in New York. Apparently he loves what he is
good at, but his father pushes him to study medicine to secure his life,
despite his son’s desire to be an actor. Things turn out worse when he tries to
do what people tell him to do.
Cook’s film and Horace’s poem are examples that
tell us that we should not waste our time doing things that we do not enjoy.
However, people misinterpret happiness by combining alcohol. This was very
common amongst Romans: “During this period, per capita
consumption is estimated to have been about 250 liters per year. Over the next
approximately 500 years, inexpensive and even free wine, was often made
available to the general public. Wine was even used as payment by the state.3”
This was a very common way to get entertained.
Works Cited
1.
Odes. 1.11
2.
Seize the
Day. Directed by Fielder Cook. Aired 1986, initial DVD release February
2003, 93 minutes
3. David
J. Hanson, “Alcohol Among the Greeks and Romans,” Alcohol Problems and
Solutions, http://www.alcoholproblemsandsolutions.org/alcohol-among-the-greeks-and-romans/
Images:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horace#/media/File:Quinto_Orazio_Flacco.jpg
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seize_the_Day_(film)#/media/File:Seize_the_Day_(film).jpg
3. https://www.google.ca/search?q=ancient+paintings+roman+banquets+images&biw=1280&bih=611&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi0nZ-AzMvNAhWDXBQKHUV_D4MQsAQIIQ#imgrc=f6CcpoW7YZsGJM%3A
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