Dido In The Aeneid

The Aeneid is a Latin epic written by Virgil in the first century BC. It can be divided into two halves based on the contrasting subject matter of Books 1-6 which refer to Aeneas' journey to Italy and Books 7-12 which refer to the war in Italy. This epic tells the story of Aeneas, a legendary Trojan who traveled to Italy and was destined to discover Rome. As Aeneas and his group near their destination, a storm throws them off course and lands them in a city known as Carthage. Here, Aeneas is welcomed by Dido, who is the founder and the ruler of this city. This essay will tell the story of the tragic love affair between Aeneas and Dido which is due entirely to the Greek gods as Aeneas comes across a faithless lover, while Dido is intrigued to the status of a tragic heroine.
As a Trojan leader, Aeneas respects the gods and attempts to incorporate the idea of his own destiny into his actions, regardless of his emotional attachments that conflict with his duties. His ability to except the path that is destined for him, even though is not the path that he wants to take, makes him a fascinating hero. Aeneas is described as being the "prototype of the ideal Roman ruler" (576). Even after Virgil’s treatment of the Trojan War, Aeneas held a place in the classical tradition as a figure of great piety. Aeneas was the son of the Trojan mortal Anchises and Venus, which is the goddess of beauty and love. This is why the character known as Dido was so mesmerized by him and this was the reason that she so quickly fell in love with him. Aeneas was such as intriguing person that Dido risked everything by falling for him, and when this love fails, she finds herself unable to reassume her dignified