The Aenid
How does Aeneas's piety and sense of duty change as the poem unfolds? To what extent is the Aeneid a political poem? Is it propaganda? Discuss with reasons and examples.
After reading the Aeneid, it becomes easy for the reader to develop a rapport for its lead character Aeneas, a man who, despite unimaginable obstacles, always stays true to his goals and convictions. While travelling from a war ravaged Troy, Aeneas and his fellow Trojans are put through test after test of their strength and character as Juno (queen of the gods) does her best to keep Aeneas and his men from achieving their goal. Juno, who holds a grudge with the Trojans, summons the help of Aeolus (god of the winds) to keep Aeneas & his men from reaching Italy. Aeneas and (8 of his 20 ships) survive the ravaging winds and land in Carthage where they are welcomed by Dido (the queen of Carthage). This affords Aeneas and his men the opportunity to rest & refresh before continuing on to Italy. Throughout their journey Aeneas selflessly works as a leader and motivator for his men despite his own fears and concerns.
Aeneas’s piety and sense of duty clearly drive everything he does throughout the poem. He believes that his destiny to settle in Italy will come to pass as long as he stays true to his beliefs and listens to the will of Jupiter (king of the gods). When faced with the ultimate distraction, the offer of the love of Dido and the opportunity to settle down and have a home in this prosperous city without any further hardship, Aeneas quickly puts his own wishes aside to continue on his journey at the urging of Jupiter. Despite this temptation (and a brief respite from his duties as a leader) it is obvious to the reader that Aeneas’s piety and sense of duty are unwavering.
As for the political nature of the poem, it could be said that the story does have a political undertone. While Aeneas is the leader of the post-war Trojans, he shows all of the classic signs of a great politician. He always
After reading the Aeneid, it becomes easy for the reader to develop a rapport for its lead character Aeneas, a man who, despite unimaginable obstacles, always stays true to his goals and convictions. While travelling from a war ravaged Troy, Aeneas and his fellow Trojans are put through test after test of their strength and character as Juno (queen of the gods) does her best to keep Aeneas and his men from achieving their goal. Juno, who holds a grudge with the Trojans, summons the help of Aeolus (god of the winds) to keep Aeneas & his men from reaching Italy. Aeneas and (8 of his 20 ships) survive the ravaging winds and land in Carthage where they are welcomed by Dido (the queen of Carthage). This affords Aeneas and his men the opportunity to rest & refresh before continuing on to Italy. Throughout their journey Aeneas selflessly works as a leader and motivator for his men despite his own fears and concerns.
Aeneas’s piety and sense of duty clearly drive everything he does throughout the poem. He believes that his destiny to settle in Italy will come to pass as long as he stays true to his beliefs and listens to the will of Jupiter (king of the gods). When faced with the ultimate distraction, the offer of the love of Dido and the opportunity to settle down and have a home in this prosperous city without any further hardship, Aeneas quickly puts his own wishes aside to continue on his journey at the urging of Jupiter. Despite this temptation (and a brief respite from his duties as a leader) it is obvious to the reader that Aeneas’s piety and sense of duty are unwavering.
As for the political nature of the poem, it could be said that the story does have a political undertone. While Aeneas is the leader of the post-war Trojans, he shows all of the classic signs of a great politician. He always