Aeneas's Complexity

Paper Summary:

This paper takes a look at the complexity of the heroic character of Aeneas, within Virgil's poem, "Aeneid". According to the paper, in the character of Aeneas, Virgil creates a character who is not just a good warrior and strategist, but also one who is infused with moral piety and a sense of a larger purpose and destiny.

From the Paper:

"Other key characters in the Aeneid by Virgil are, in general and comparatively speaking, far more one- dimensional, and therefore not nearly as complex as Aeneas himself. Turnus, for instance, Aeneas's rival and enemy on the battlefield, is strong in war (at least initially) but lacks any of the moral piety and respect for the gods that Aeneas clearly possesses. Juno, Aeneas's nemesis, is similarly stubborn and vengeful, i.e., much the opposite of Aeneas himself. For instance, Juno continues, vengefully, to wish to keep punishing Aeneas, and gives up on doing so only after Jupiter twice says that Aeneas is fated to win.
While Aeneas is reflective; respectful of the gods and fate, and deeply pious, then, Juno is stubbornly, single-mindedly vengeful; antagonistic, and angry toward a god more important than herself, and toward mortals, too - qualities that are, ultimately, symbolically vanquished by more positive qualities, e.g., moral piety; patience, humility and obedience toward the gods as embodied by Aeneas."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Virgil. The Aeneid [full online text]. The Literature Page. 2005. Retrieved February 7, 2006, from: < http://www.literaturepage.com/read/virgil-aeneid.html>

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