Theme and Characters of Aeneid

The Poem Aeneid and its Influences

The poem Aeneid was influenced by Homer’s Iliad. The poem tells the story of Aeneas and his fellow Trojans fleeing their city of Troy. Troy was destroyed by the Greeks. Aeneas sets off to find the location where he was destined to create the city that would eventually become the vast Roman Empire. At this light, Aeneas and the other Trojan set sail for Italy. When they were halfway there, a storm blew them off course, sending them to the city of Carthage. Dido, the ruler of Carthage, greeted them with open arms. Given the great reception. Dido later fell in love with Aeneas, but they broke up when the gods reminded Aeneas about his quest. Aeneas and his fellow left to Latium where King Latinus welcomed them. The arrival of Aeneas and his fellow Trojan caused antagonism between them and the people of Latium. In this way, this study comprises a discussion of the main characters and themes as developed in Aeneid.

The Main Characters - Aeneas, Dido, and Turnus

The main characters of Aeneid are Aeneas, Dido, and Turnus. Aeneas being the main character means that the story is constructed around his life. He was the son of Anchises and Venus. Aeneas was chosen by the gods to survive the war between the Trojan and the Greeks. His selection by the gods implies that he had the privileges of spiritual protection. These supernatural forces were gods who preordained his destiny. Therefore, Aeneas acts as a tool of fate and favor was bestowed upon him by the gods. Fate uses him to fulfill a prophetical destiny.

Aeneas was a real Trojan leader because he accepted his prophecy and followed it despite the setbacks that he met on the way. He became a hero by sacrificing his happiness in pursuit of a preordained path. The sacrifice is highlighted by him leaving his lover to go and build a city. More so, he mobilized his comrades through his talks that lifted their spirits. Furthermore, he loved his family a virtue seen when he escorted them out of Troy bearing his elderly father on his back. Moreover, he respected the gods by vehemently listening to them and executing their wishes.

The second basic character in Aeneid is Dido. She was the ruler of Carthage that is the queen of the Africa state of Carthage. She came to Carthage after Pygmalion murdered her husband. Her brother forced her to leave her homeland. However, despite the fact that she suffered multiple obstacles such as the death of her husband and forcefully being evicted from home, she never gave up. She pursued her political career by building a new city and subsequently became a ruler. Virgil and Collins portrayed her as one of the strongest women in the poem (45). When the storms swept Aeneas and his comrades to Carthage, she sympathized with them and welcomed them in her city.

However, her character changed on being struck by a cupid arrow. Dido told her sister that a flame had been ignited in her heart. This means that she was in love with Aeneas. This love changed Dido’s character given that she lost her political goodwill for the Carthage’s residents. She also lost her political allies by indulging with a foreigner. Loss of political power and loved ones made Dido commit suicide.

The last main character is Turnus. Turnus had to die for Aeneas to attain his destiny. Turnus, like Dido, represented the stumbling blocks that were against Aeneas quest. Nevertheless, unlike Dido, who was destroyed by love, Turnus died because of pride and anger. Turnus greatest skills were seen in battle. Courageousness and power made him a force to consider. However, his power could not stop the inevitable from happening. He was obsessed in fighting the fate by interpreting its signs his way. Additionally, he refused to accept the destiny of the gods. However, he later lost his courage and accepted his fate.

Themes Explored in Aeneid

Virgil and Collins use the above characters to explore various themes such as fate, prophecies and gods, war and violence and women and love. Fate is the major theme in the Aeneid. Aeneas journey from Troy was a prophecy which was Aeneas destiny. For example, the Trojans in their journey met many stumbling blocks such as the storms at sea which nearly stood between him and his destiny. In this case, fate rose above all those natural forces. This is attributed to the gods who had the powers to interfere with Aeneas journey but did not affect the outcome of events. Dido fell in love with Aeneas, but fate came between them. Moreover, Dido’s passion towards Aeneas made her commit suicide. On the other hand, Aeneas sacrificed the desires of his heart to fulfill his destiny. Both Aeneas and Dido were victims of fate.

The Vulcan built Aeneas a shield that depicted the founding of the great Roman Empire. This means that although there were many blocks between Aeneas from his destiny, there was nothing that could be done to bar the fate that Aeneas will build a city. Also, Virgil and Collins demonstrated that you cannot interpret fate to suit personal views. Turnus tried to drive fate by his terms. Hew attempted to twist or construct fate to his liking. He refused to accept the path that was laid for him by the Jupiter. As such, neither his interpretation nor his power could prevent fate from happening.

The poem Aeneid also explores the theme of prophecy and gods. The whole story about Aeneas building the city that will become the great Roman Empire was a prophecy. The predictions came in the form of dreams, signs and symbols, and direct visits from the gods. The gods are an interesting party in Aeneas quest of fulfilling his destiny. Virgil and Collins shows supernatural creatures that take extreme measures to throw Aeneas off course (56). All though they had the power to interfere with the Aeneas journey, there was nothing they could do to block the Trojans destiny. One of the gods, Juno, for example, became angry and developed many bars to derail Aeneas and his fellow Trojans from getting to their destiny. The other god was Jupiter who called upon a council to discuss the Fates of Aeneas and Turnus. On the other hand, the gods play a significant role in Aeneas prophecy. For example, when the gods reminded Aeneas about his preordained destiny. They made him leave Dido and sail to Italy.

The third theme was war and violence. The Aeneid was a story of survivors of war between the Trojans and the Greeks. Their city Troy was destroyed because of war. Further, this theme is explored when King Latinus allowed Aeneas to settle with the hope that Aeneas will marry his daughter. However, King Latinus wife wanted her daughter to marry Turnus. King Latinus will of wanting his daughter to marry Aeneas lead enmity between the Aeneas and Turnus. In the midst of this, a fight broke out resulting in people losing their lives. Additionally, Ascanius hunted a sacred pet that belonged to the natives. This order of events made Turnus angry, and he started a war between the Trojans and the Locals. On the other hand, violence was depicted by antagonism between Aeneas and Turnus. Aeneas disarmed Turnus by striking his leg. After disarming Turnus, Aeneas put a sword on his chest. As he put a sword on Turnus chest, Aeneas realized that Turnus had a sword belt that belonged to Pallas and it made him angry. This anger made Aeneas commit an act of violence by killing Turnus.

Love and sympathy are the following themes explored by Virgil and Collins. One of the characters used to study this theme is Dido. She show both love and sympathy. Firstly, she sympathized with Aeneas and his comrades’ story and thus welcomed them in her city. She later fell in love with Aeneas. Furthermore, it is her love for Aeneas that makes her lose her civic duties and her life. More so, Palinurus love for Aeneas made him die trying to navigate Aeneas ship to safety. Aeneas also had a generous heart. The generosity is depicted by him showing mercy to anyone they came across. For example, he refused to strip the armor of Lausus, the son of Mezentius who was the former king of the Etruscans. This armor was conquerors prize. Moreover, he facilitated the proper burial of Lausus.

The following theme explored is women in leadership. Virgil and Collins portrayed a woman as someone who can take political power but easily swayed by emotions. Dido was a strong and stable woman yet her love for Aeneas made him unstable. On the other hand, Aeneas who represents men is moved by neither obstacles of the gods nor his love for Dido. She lost her political power because of her emotions. Furthermore, she became more unstable and ended up committing suicide. Through Aeneas, Virgil and Collins also explores the theme of vengeance (67). Aeneas avenged the death of Pallas when he found out that Turnus was wearing a belt that belonged to Pallas. Aeneas dedicates Turnus death to Pallas. Furthermore, Mezentius died while trying to avenge the death of his son Lausus.

Summary

In outline, fate is a force that neither human beings nor supernatural beings can stop. Once it rolls, no one can stop it. Fate brings down many victims before it settles down. Human beings are just agents of fate and fate will either use them for or against it. This act is symbolized by death of Turnus and triumph of Aeneas. Turnus had to die in order fate can take its place. Moreover, rejecting fate will bring consequences such as death. For example, dido committed suicide because she could not accept the loss of her lover. Lastly, it is the obstacles that are thrown to block fate that are defeated not the fate itself.

Work Cited

Virgil, Lewis C. Day, and David W. Collins. The Aeneid. Franklin, Tenn: Naxos of America, 2015. Internet resource.