gender and transgression in Horace

«   Women objectification: Camille as object “frère posseseur”, “je serais le salaire”, and objects of possession.

Men assure that because he is in love with Camille he possesses her.

Both of the female characters are aware that they are being passed around between men being objects of possession.

They are expected to pass from one identity to another.

Horace says to Sabine she has to merge with his emotions and ideas not for him to lower his standards to support her.   Lecture 2   There are values that are more important than life itself “Je ne me compte point pour un de vos Sujets” (Horace).

For him to die for one's country is a partial part of glory.   Sabine is flagging up the fact that there is a real human cost to this issue and to be able to live up by their heroism death has to come upon one of them.

But how sincere is Sabine when she offers 3 times her life? She might be rebelling by saying that monologue (to die) but also if she gets killed it would an easy way out this rebellion.

Women are kept away the battlefield because their tears are feared.

They might put in the question the battle in the crowd's head. Fleeing a male opponent : renunciation of masculinity - compromises one's male vigueur. Fleeing a female opponent: necessary to maintain masculinity and autonomy, to avoid being tainted with feminine “faiblesse”.. »