How successfully does Catullus portray the pathos of Ariadne? (25)

Catullus successfully creates pathos for Ariadne in poem 64 by referring first to her utter surprise of Theseus’ departure. He then describes her total despair as she realises what she has sacrificed for him: her family, her homeland and now her love.

To begin, Catullus successfully highlights pathos for Ariadne in lines 54-55; ‘indomitos in corde gerens Ariadna furores, necdum etiam sese quae visit visere credit’, which translates as ‘Ariadne, having savage rages in her heart, but even now does not yet believe what she herself sees’. The framing of the line with ‘indomitos’ (savage) and ‘furores’ (rages) highlights how ‘Ariadna’, who is positioned in between these words, has been surrounded and enveloped by waves of passionate hatred after Theseus abandons her on a deserted island. In addition, the literal translation of ‘gerens’ is wearing, thus emphasising that Ariadne’s emotions are so strong, they are physically visible. The juxtaposition of ‘visere credit’ again creates pathos for Ariadne, since she sees Theseus departing (videre), but her shock and disbelief of his betrayal is so strong, she is unable to comprehend it (credit).

Catullus successfully creates pathos by describing Theseus through the thoughts of Ariadne; ‘immemor at iuvenis fugiens pellit vada remis, irrita ventosae linquens promissa procellae.’ This translates as ‘But the thoughtless fleeing man strikes the deep seas with the oars, leaving his empty promises to the windy storms.’ Ariadne’s description of Theseus as a ‘thoughtless fleeing man’ (immemor at iuvenis fugiens) portrays Theseus as a selfish and cowardly character to the audience. The alliteration of ‘immemor’ and ‘iuvenis’ (thoughtless and young man) highlights Ariadne’s disgust at his cowardly and self-centred actions. In addition, the choice to describe Theseus as an ‘iuvenis’, meaning ‘young man’, rather that man ‘vir’ illustrates how she sees Theseus as an immature young man, thus explaining his insensitive actions. His cowardly character is highlighted by the choice of ‘fugiens’ (fleeing).