Examples Of Heroism In The Aeneid

Heroism and Bereavement
Vergil’s Aeneid is an epic that illustrates the determination that displays heroism amongst an individual, and furthermore, how this perception of heroism is shifted throughout the play. An example of this modification in Vergil’s perception of heroism was presented in Book 10, during the dreadful death of Lausus by the hands of Aeneas. Vergil presented the death of Lausus as a very extreme and vicious act. Nevertheless, Vergil illustrated Lausus’ death in such a vicious manner for various reasons. Firstly, he wanted to show the readers the new side of Aeneas. Secondly, his death displayed another example of the father-son relationship in the play. Lastly, because Vergil attempted to have the readers reflect back on
In book 8, Aeneas has a reflection from a goddess that tells to form an alliance with the Arcadians who are also amongst war with the Latins. Therefore, this would help Aeneas and the Troy army to gather more soldiers and make the battle gain prospect towards their side triumphing. As Aeneas goes to the Arcadian territory, he is welcomed in open hands by the king of Arcadians, Evander. Both sides agree working together is beneficial for each other. Before going out to battle, Evander requests Aeneas to take his son, Pallas, with him into battle. “Let him learn from you to endure the work of war. Let him observe all you do and respect you from his early years” (Book 8, lines 586-588). Therefore, through this conversation, Aeneas understood Pallas was now his responsibility. Aeneas appreciated all of the help Evander gave him, and therefore, knew Pallas shouldn’t be hurt during battle. However, fate had other things in mind, and Pallas was killed by Turnus. Not only killed, but his corpse was also put to shame and disgrace as Turnus tore away Pallas’ engraved belt and took it as a sign of victory. Once Aeneas found out about his death, he was put into compete rage. “Pallas, Evander, everything swam in Aeneas’ eye – the table he came to as a stranger, the right hands pledged” (Book 10, lines 622-624). Lausus was in a similar position as Pallas. He was also a young solider fighting under
It depicts how different strategies determine that faith of that hero. For instance, Vergil illustrated the main hero, Aeneas, killing the character of Lausus as an act that was meant to be vicious and unjust. Vergil portrayed the death this way because he wanted to show how the character of Aeneas is shifted from the beginning to end. Secondly, he wanted to further illustrate the theme of the father-son relationship, and show how it revokes the death of Lausus. Lastly, Vergil does this to make a manifestation back to the death of Pallas. Therefore, based on these three reasons, Vergil displays the death of Lausus to be aggressive and hateful for the audience because it embarks a new attribute that revolutionizes Aeneas as the protagonist of the story, but is also justified due to the death of Pallas, and ties together different relationships and bonds the epic creates. In general, I feel the readers would have a negative reaction based to what Vergil has written because we expect the main hero to be brave but at the same time forgiving and helpful to others. Aeneas, one the other hand, does show bravery, but has too much anger to show any other form of emotion; therefore he doesn’t strike as one with the superficial hero most readers look for. However, based on the context of Aeneid, it’s understandable why Aeneas is put into this rage and temper, therefore it’s explicable to