Poems 69 & 43

In Poems 69 and 43, Catullus takes on an a tone of someone superior to others, very wise and well-traveled. He sees himself higher than others, to the point in which he can criticize, Rufus, a poor guy who smells, and isn't even aware of the fact, and a girl, who he does not consider to be beautiful. Who is he to judge her so harshly, and matter-of-factly. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder," is it not? The worst part is, his biting description of the poor woman, in Poem 43, causes me to cringe simply from the unattractive, image that forms in my head. It is impressive that Catullus, so in love with Lesbia, does not have eyes for any other woman, even the one who all the province considers most beautiful. What is even more surprising, is that Catullus is able to persuade and influence his audience into believing this woman is so very unattractive. Without a doubt, it takes a skilled poet to accomplish this. Props to ya, Catullus.
Anyway, back to the point, both poems are similar in the fact that they criticize other people, by a guy who thinks he's superior to them cause he's got an amazing relationship with theee most beautiful girl. Does having a relationship with a female entitle Catullus to see himself above others?