Female Roles In The Aeneid

The Significance of Female Roles in The Aeneid
Though there are female characters in The Aeneid who are commonly interpreted as having a negative impact on Aeneas’ journey, Juno and Dido contribute to Aeneas’ legend as a mythical hero. The female characters, Juno and Dido, are known for wreaking havoc in the epic, since they both express anger toward Aeneas. Because of their treacherous actions, Dido and Juno play significant roles in the epic as they impact Aeneas’ conquest to found the Roman Empire. Therefore, Juno’s and Dido’s actions help Aeneas learn from his past, and they both challenge him to become a legendary warrior, in order for him to achieve his final destiny. Juno consistently attacks Aeneas and the Trojans throughout the epic. Juno is considered to be evil by most critics because she strives to thwart Aeneas from achieving his goals (Rosenberg 259). In Chapter One, Virgil describes Juno as a cruel goddess with “Unrelenting hatred for all Trojans” (Virgil 260). Juno’s rage is prevalent
throughout The Aeneid. Juno’s anger is revealed through the “Destruction of Aeneas’ fleet” (Virgil 261). Also, her rage is demonstrated through her interference with Aeneas’ destiny by having “Directed a goddess from the Underworld to go forth among the people of Latium and create war” (Virgil 283). Juno’s revenge tactics against Aeneas and the Trojans characterize her role. Also, Dido is a human woman who behaves similarly to the goddess Juno, and she becomes an antagonist in the epic. Dido also expresses anger and resentment toward Aeneas, which depicts her role as a detriment to Aeneas. She prays for Aeneas to be tormented once he establishes the Roman Empire and for his death (Virgil 277). Therefore, Dido and Juno are both interpreted as antagonists in The Aeneid. Though Dido is a representation of Aeneas’ loss in Troy, her role in the epic leads Aeneas to become a hero. Both Troy and Dido are destroyed in the epic (Virgil 268 & 277). These tragedies define Aeneas’ tragic past. In Chapter Six, Aeneas finds Dido in the Underworld after she perishes and he tells her, “The gods who now force me to make this journey drove me from Carthage” (Virgil 280). Once Aeneas leaves Dido, the gods help him learn that he must continue on his journey and put his tragic past behind him, in order to found the Roman Empire. Without the inclusion of Dido in the myth, Aeneas would not have learned the importance of placing the needs of his people above his romantic affair to become a strong hero. Therefore, Dido plays a crucial role in helping Aeneas become a mythical hero. Not only does Dido prove to help Aeneas learn the values which designate him as a hero, but also Juno challenges Aeneas to become a mighty warrior.
Though Juno is interpreted as an antagonist who interferes with Aeneas’ destiny, Aeneas would not have had to fight for his destiny without her role in the epic. In order to be a legendary hero, Aeneas needed the challenges in battle which Juno provoked. Aeneas would not have become the strong and mighty warrior he is in the future without the turmoil she caused him and his men. In the end, Juno asks Jupiter for the “Latins to keep their ancient name and language” (Virgil 286). Juno’s request leads to the preservation of Aeneas’ legend in the original language. In conclusion, Juno and Dido emphasize the significance of the few female roles in the epic. These female roles complicate the plot. Both female characters inadvertently help Aeneas become a strong warrior and mature on his conquest to achieve his
destiny.
Works Cited
Rosenberg, Donna. World Mythology an Anthology of the Great Myths. 3rd ed. Columbus: Glencoe McGraw Hill, 1999. Print.