5

5.3
1. Why did Cato object to repealing the Oppian law? What was the basis of his objections?
He objected because he didn’t want them to be his equal. He thought they would one day be his superiors if he let them be his equal.
2. How did Valerius counter Cato’s assertions? What evidence did he use?
He talked about how they could be dressed up in gold and purple. “Elegance of appearance, adornment, apparel – these are the woman’s badges of honor.”(Page 113)
3. What do both men reveal about contemporary attitudes toward women and their place in the republic?
They were important for reproduction, but they were in charge of lesser matters like managing the household. They were more like trophies than people.
4. What does this excerpt show about the republic’s government?