- Published: September 27, 2022
- Updated: September 27, 2022
- University / College: The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney)
- Level: Masters
- Language: English
- Downloads: 9
Assignment Aeneas struggles with both internal and external conflicts. He struggles with his self, and his meaning in life. He is mortal and has feelings, makes mistakes, and holds morals and compassion for his human companions. He shows his bravery and love for his family in book II, 921 to 1000. His respect for his father is shown during the genocide of Troy, when he carries him on his back. He tries to flee with his father, wife Creusa, son Ascanius and followers. His sorrow if heightened when his wife goes missing from the group. He has a moral obligation to the other followers to get them to safety. He then returns to search for his wife, however is unsuccessful. He had no choice but to continue with the other survivors. We see his tenderness also with his lover Dido; however this makes some respect his character less. Despite his deceit, he is aware of his ramifications of his actions, and assumes compassion and responsibility.
Virgil’s structure of this hero and the fate that bestows him is similar to Odysseus. Yet he focuses on emotional feelings of the characters that set them apart from characters in history. Aeneas did encounter a lot of controversial decisions, and had an inevitable fate. He resumed responsibility for his duties, and seemed to have little free will. His decisions were for the best for himself and others, and were not selfish. He definitely showed his human qualities during his journey. Virgil was able to differentiate from works such as Homer’s Iliad and the Odyssey. In some ways he is seen as a tragic hero. The Aeneid does however reflect a similar tone of ironic tragedy such as not following their heart, submitting them to their fate. It also models the encounters in the Odyssey and its written structure. The Aeneid has its own literary significance and is a cherished legacy. It has its own qualities of Roman life which give it its own identity.
Virgil was a poet of the Roman Empire, born Publius Vergilius. Romans are said to have prided themselves on their practicality and morality. Aeneas is on a journey to found the greatest empire, thus this story is pious. The Odyssey is resourceful. Virgil transcended Homer’s Iliad story of Roman descent from Troy. The Aeneid world is crafted with Roman morals, experiences, and emotions. Aeneas is unable to kill Helen because Venus makes him see that the gods are destroying Troy, and urges him to get his family to safety. He did not do what he wanted, but the respected decision to not engage in his vengeance for Helen. As for Priam’s death, Aeneas’s failure is more an indication of the reality that not everyone can be saved and humanity of Aeneid. The Greek idea of a hero is different of that of the Romans. So it is hard to say that Aeneas is less of a hero but rather a different kind of hero. His actions are dutiful and pious, for his ancestors, family, and future descendants.
Aeneas is patient and pious, and has real emotions and rationales. His killing of Turnus was said to lack heroism, however. Odysseus is somewhat subtler in the Odyssey. He also has his faults, including taunting Polyphemus, which is considered foolish and unnecessary. This is a hard question because there are different views of a hero, in this case the Romans and Greeks ideal. Aeneas was heroic to the Romans because he didnt let anything stop him from founding Rome and staying with his destiny. Duty over inclination.
Greek heroes generally earned a reputation by fighting. Odysseus was cunning and quick thinking in his ability to escape Polyphenols. Each hero kills at the end of their journey, justification remains up for interpretation. Odysseus is an advancement of the Illidic hero; his skills of cunning and trickery whilst make him famous in the mythical world. The Phoenicians recognize the name Odysseus and know it to be heroic. Aeneas is renowned as a hero, he is famous, his exploits are painted onto Didos walls before they even meet. Aeneas is designed to be Augustus, the hero and savior of Rome. Aeneas had correspondence with the contemporary Roman hero at the time and carries the fate of history on his back. Because Odysseus is a mythical ideal of a hero, Aeneas would be the better hero. Odysseus is a hero for purely selfish means. Thinking of a true hero, first think of what is real. Human qualities and heroism mean more than mythical creatures in a world we can’t even imagine. Aeneas was a true hero in that his fight was for a real cause, and though he had his own duties, he did everything he could to save the people he cared about.
” The Internet Classics Archive | The Aeneid by Virgil.” The Internet Classics Archive: 441 Searchable Works of Classical Literature. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. .