Analyzing The Character Of Dido In Virgil's 'Aeneid'
Jessica Smith
Professor Lloyd Davies
ENG 385, 002
20 February 2014
Aeneas and the Shade of Dido In Book VI of Virgil’s The Aeneid, Aeneas descends into the Underworld alongside the priestess Sybil. During this journey, Aeneas is instilled with more humanity than when he first appears, and his encounter with Dido in the Fields of Mourning shows this. A seemingly heartless man whom did not soften his leave from Dido is broken down into tears during his reunification. While Aeneas takes his leave from Dido in Book IV, Dido is sent into a fit of rage and despair. Aeneas, on the other hand, departs without so much as taking a look back at his would-be bride. He sleeps in peace on his ship while Dido places a curse upon him and then
kills herself. Aeneas is portrayed as selfish and headstrong to fulfill his own destiny set by the Gods. When Aeneas is reunited with Dido in the Underworld, he is overcome with emotion. Dido displays the dignity that she lost during Aeneas’ departure and ignores him. She turns away and flees into the Fields of Mourning, where she and her husband, Sychaeus are reunited. Aeneas is the beggar whom has realized his losses. He “escorts her from afar with streaming tears and pities her as she passes” (Virgil, 198).
Until this point, Aeneas does not recognize what he has lost. He has lost a nation, his wife, father, and now he has lost a true chance at happiness, Dido. Formerly Aeneas was content with the idea of pursuing his destiny, but seeing Dido’s shade makes him feel remorse about his selfishness.
Works Cited
Virgil. The Aeneid. Trans. Robert Fagles. New York: the Penguin Group, 2008. Print.
Professor Lloyd Davies
ENG 385, 002
20 February 2014
Aeneas and the Shade of Dido In Book VI of Virgil’s The Aeneid, Aeneas descends into the Underworld alongside the priestess Sybil. During this journey, Aeneas is instilled with more humanity than when he first appears, and his encounter with Dido in the Fields of Mourning shows this. A seemingly heartless man whom did not soften his leave from Dido is broken down into tears during his reunification. While Aeneas takes his leave from Dido in Book IV, Dido is sent into a fit of rage and despair. Aeneas, on the other hand, departs without so much as taking a look back at his would-be bride. He sleeps in peace on his ship while Dido places a curse upon him and then
kills herself. Aeneas is portrayed as selfish and headstrong to fulfill his own destiny set by the Gods. When Aeneas is reunited with Dido in the Underworld, he is overcome with emotion. Dido displays the dignity that she lost during Aeneas’ departure and ignores him. She turns away and flees into the Fields of Mourning, where she and her husband, Sychaeus are reunited. Aeneas is the beggar whom has realized his losses. He “escorts her from afar with streaming tears and pities her as she passes” (Virgil, 198).
Until this point, Aeneas does not recognize what he has lost. He has lost a nation, his wife, father, and now he has lost a true chance at happiness, Dido. Formerly Aeneas was content with the idea of pursuing his destiny, but seeing Dido’s shade makes him feel remorse about his selfishness.
Works Cited
Virgil. The Aeneid. Trans. Robert Fagles. New York: the Penguin Group, 2008. Print.