Juvenal's Satire and Social Problems in US

Obesity

'How big and how many are his dessert dishes?’

Obesity is a huge issue found in the United States. One of the greatest cause to obesity is the oversized food portions. In the quote found in Juvenal’s Satire III, this question reflects the exact cause of obesity. Asking how BIG the dishes is taking into account how much food is placed on the dishes. More importantly, it talks about “dessert dishes”. A great rising concern that stems from obesity the increase in processed foods which contains high levels of sugar in them. Many eat these on a regular basis as their staple diet leading to obesity. 

Although during the Roman times, obesity may not have been issue but they did have a practice of overeating and throwing all their food up so that they could eat more. This is a huge concern as it is essentially an unhealthy practice of eating and shows the inability to control portion sizes. Not only does this impact on health but on the mindset as well. In Juvenal’s Satire III, the context in which this question was posed was a way to judge a man’s wealth. How much food they could serve showed wealth, worth and power. Although in American society today, portion sizes may not be a measure of wealth but there is definitely a norm that larger portion sizes brings more satisfaction to the person. How much they can eat shows how much they enjoy the food. 

So in both societies bigger portion sizes are seen as better, people want it and more satisfactory to the soul.

Same-sex Marriage

One prolongs his eyebrows with some damp soot staining the edge of a needle, and lifts up his blinking eyes to be painted; another drinks out of an obscenely-shaped glass, and ties up his long locks in a gilded net; he is clothed in blue checks, or smooth-faced green; the attendant swears by Juno like his master. (Juvenal’s Satire II)

In recent years, the problem of same-sex marriage has been accelerating in the United States. Many states has not officially legalized marriages between the same gender. This is a problem especially due to the attack on values and concepts of marriage. In Juvenal’s Satire II describes men dressing up as women - in fact, it goes into deep description of the way he does the eyebrows and ties his “long locks”. Although it is not directly related to same-sex marriage but it shows a direct attack on the social norms and values in society. Making themselves look more feminine was not an ideal social norm in the Roman time. More than just the appearance itself, it shows how gender roles are shifting, changing and being twisted. One problem with same-sex marriage is it causes a lot of confusion as to what roles of a husband, wife, mother and father should be like as either gender can assume that role. This confusion has an impact on the development of children, on religious institutions and how we perceive our identity in our society today as well as in Roman times. 

Poverty

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.

Poverty is another huge social problem in the United States. It is not that children are starved but many families are living in a situation where their wage cannot support themselves at all. What they are earning is not sufficient to buy food for their family, to pay for rent and to provide an education for their children. In Roman times, poverty was a huge concern as well. “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.” 

Many were struggling with being able to keep up the most basic living as well. Wealth was very important in the Roman times, yet many struggled, as illustrated in Juvenal’s Satire III, where many lack sleep because they have to work, many suffer from health illnesses and how society viewed it. Not feeling good enough for society was a huge problem because the worst kind of poverty was being “exposed to ridicule”. Being poor was not viewed kindly. Likewise, in society today those who are poor may be seen as being lazy, not working hard enough, doing drugs and many other negative concepts tied to them. 

It is clear to see that poverty was a huge problem in both societies, both having to go through similar problems and especially the way society view those impoverished. 

Education

• "What can I do at Rome? I cannot lie; if a book is bad, I cannot praise it, and beg for a copy; I am ignorant of the movements of the stars; I cannot, and will not, promise to a man his father's death; I have never examined the entrails of a frog…”

Education was another huge issue in the United States. The quality of education, the high dropout rates, the huge gap in education levels between ethnic groups are all huge concerns within the aspect of education. 

Similarly, in Rome this quote shows the lack of education in many people "What can I do at Rome? I cannot lie; if a book is bad, I cannot praise it, and beg for a copy; I am ignorant of the movements of the stars; I cannot, and will not, promise to a man his father's death; I have never examined the entrails of a frog…” Many people become ignorant of what is going on in the outside world as they are unable to afford an education or able to continue their schooling. There is a sense of blindness and inability to progress or have greater opportunities. 

This same effect is from he quote as being unable to praise a book or get a chance to read one. As a result you become ignorant in society. It is hard for them to take part in voting, or even understanding the minds of the upper class. In what was considered one of the greatest empires in history, education was very important. Their government was seen as one of the greatest as every men over 18 could vote. But with the lack of knowledge and intellect it really is hard to be able to participate in it. 

Not being educated in the world today also leads to similar consequences of being withdrawn from society and unable to take part in society today. Education opens doors of opportunities, pulls them out of poverty and enables them to have a better understanding of politics today.

Immigration

The large influx of immigrants into the United States is another great concern that the government has. Unable to control and monitor who is coming in and out can be potentially dangerous and detrimental to the society today. Many wanted to immigrate for better job opportunities, for a better future. Likewise in Juvenal’s Satire III, it describes that“One comes from lofty Sicyon, another from Amydon or Andros, others from Samos, Tralles or Alabanda; all making for the Esquiline, or for the hill that takes its name from osier-beds[8]; all ready to worm their way into the houses of the great and become their masters.” Many wanted to move for better opportunities.

Just like in the Roman Empire, being a Roman citizen was a huge privilege because they could vote. Many who were offered this citizenship was able to see an improvement in the quality of life and better technology.  America is seen as a place of greater development, a place where they could have higher prospect of earning more money, essentially a better quality of life. Being a free country just like how Roman Empire had one of the best government systems, both were seen in their respective periods of time as great nations that many aspired to be part of.

This could cause to a huge problem in controlling who wanted in and out and who wanted the citizenship. Although in Roman times, citizenship was fairly strict but the image that both countries embodies and the power they had was very similar. Both societies were seen as great sources of wealth and higher standard of living - places where people wanted to move to.