Is Aeneas a hero? In what ways yes and no? Why might Virgil have chosen to depict him in this way? How might he compare with Odysseus?
Throughout the book you can understand that he is a hero whom does not like to use aggressive “violence”. War is not really the first thought that comes into his mind and he tries out the “best” options before death. Clearly a man that does not contain any kind of balderdash talk and cares for his family. Or so Virgil says, right? This is what she sees through her eyes and a misconception of what a hero might really be to Virgil. He is basically a hero as default as he is half god. Our last thoughts of both characters Odysseus and Aeneas might have influenced our thoughts based on the endings; Odysseus has like a joyful ending as if it was some sort of present movie but Aeneas ends the story very dry as if we were to understand his life was not really nothing meaningful but just simply a concept because he was following prophecy.
Aeneas definitely chose the non-violent route when trying to complete his mission and achieve his goal. He thinks what to do in which no one else would be affected negatively and that shows a sense of heroism for Aeneas. His main goal throughout The Aeneid is to make sure that the Trojans have a place to stay in which they have lost through battle. Although he struggles and is thrown with challenges from Juno who is out to destroy him and the Trojans, he does everything in his power to get to his goal which shows “true heroism” at least to the Trojans. Both books definitely were trying to portray Odysseus and Aeneas true heroes but also many readers have different opinions on the definition of a true hero.