In the Aeneid, Gods play a dynamic role in determining the fate of mortals. They have the most power and controls over the others and they are inimitable. Making sacrifices and prayers to the Gods determine if they are going to use their power and force to either help you or go against you in every possible way. Jupiter is the king of the gods, who has the most power to rule other gods and has a supreme control. While Jupiter encourages destiny, the other gods cannot act against his will. Throughout this epic, the godly influence can be seen as more of help than obstruction to Aeneas. Even though, Aeneas made sacrifices and prays to Juno, she tries to destroy Aeneas and makes it difficult for Aeneas to perform his duty. Despite of Juno creating barriers for Aeneas to fulfill his mission, Jupiter and other gods helps him to overcome every barrier and helps him to complete his mission. Furthermore, Aeneas’s mother Venus who is a goddess helps him during his difficult times. Venus shows that Aeneas has all the support and help from the gods and that will assure his protection from all the gods.

Consider the role that various gods and their moods and actions play in The Aeneid. It might make sense to focus especially on Juno and Venus.

Throughout the entire book, the gods and goddesses had a lot of influence. If one of them is angered by you or your people, like Juno was, then they can make your journey a lot harder. On the other hand, if the gods and goddesses favor you or even if you just pray to them, they will help you out. For example when Aeneas gets hurt, his mother Venus, who is a goddess, sends some healing balm. Or when there was a storm, they prayed to Neptune, and he would calm the ocean. Juno hates the Trojans because there was once a Trojan by the name of Troy who didn’t pick her in a beauty contest. Because of this she takes out her anger on Aeneas and the Trojan people. Venus is Aeneas’ mother and she tries to help her son whenever she can. Since Juno and Venus are on opposite sides, this causes a lot of conflict betweens the gods.

What is the role of prophecies and/or fate in The Aeneid?

Aeneas is reminded of his fate and the prophecies he must fill when he gets sidetracked. In Book lV, Aeneas and Dido fall in love and seem to plan a future for themselves in her city. But, Aeneas is reminded of his fate by the gods, almost to keep the story moving. Aeneas leaves almost immediate after the gods tell him to leave, without much thought of how this would impact Dido. Without the constant reminder of fate and the use of prophecies the epic poem would seem to go on forever. The reader or listener could feel like they are drowning in a story with no end and countless side stories. Fate and prophecies guide the epic poem to an end, that we were told at the beginning.

In the Aeneid, having a birthplace or sense of geological association appears to be a crucial piece in identifying one’s worth. A lack thereof represents  instability and lack of self-awareness. Due to this cultural context, I believe this is why Virgil focuses so closely on the founding of cities. Cities represent an idea supported by the great importance placed on the values of loyalty and belonging associated with this time. Throughout the book, the obsession of Aeneas and the Trojans to resurrect the fallen city of Troy serves as a channel in which Virgil highlights cities as a remedy for the eventful and unpredictable voyages of wanderers, men who lack a place to call home. A well built city filled with fortified structures and accented banners represents a sense of unclaimed prowess and clout for Aeneas and his men.

-Kevon

In the Aeneid, Book VI written by Publius Vergilius low commanded by the Roman emperor Augustus to give a mythical and heroic fundament to the Rome foundation. In Book VI several similar topics are presented to those presented in the “Odyssey”, specifically in the edge 11 where we see death and life after death, with prophecies of the near future and hope among others.

During Book VI of the Aeneid it presents a major and recurring tragedies and heroic songs in ancient Greece, the death, specifically supporting characters whose involvement in history has greatly altered the protagonist. In the Odyssey is dying one of the closest friends od Odysseus in a “party”, while in the Aeneid “Dido”is dying, here we can see a crucial factor in the development of the characters, the death of a loved one caused for a bad decision from the some of the characters, possibly to demostrates that a great leader or hero is not born so, if not after repeatedly falling off and then rises again. In a way the Greek or Roman literature present a book whose pages teach those who read some of the basic principles of life, and how to reach or aspire to greatness.

Is Aeneas a hero?

Aeneas ran away when it mattered the most instead of fighting for his people.  It might seem like a coward move, but in my opinion he’s a hero. He left because he was going to die if he stayed.  Leaving gave him more options and that’s why he left to Italy in hopes of rebuilding.  He found a place for the Trojans as promised and he kept fighting trying to achieve his goals.  He decided to keep following  the messages the Gods were sending him.  The gods had a path for him, it was Aeneas choice to follow it or not.  He chose to be a hero.

Many readers throughout history have commented on the awkwardness and dissatisfying nature of the ending of The Aeneid. Did you find it this way? Why or why not?

The ending of The Aeneid wasn’t dissatisfying, though it was a little abrupt. There was nothing left to say — the reader has already read, multiple times, the future of the Trojans. Everyone knows that Aeneas and his Trojans establish Rome in Italy, and that they rule for generations. The only loose end to tie at the end is whether or not Turnus lives on to keep challenging Aeneas and his inevitable marriage to Lavinia. When Turnus was killed, the one remaining obstacle was overcome, and there was no need to carry on describing anything else. I think that’s a reflection of Virgil’s style; he was a lot less colorful (and lengthy) in his descriptions than Homer was in The Odyssey — and in The Odyssey, Homer really takes time to really wrap up his story, ending the way it began: a conversation among gods. Virgil’s relative succinctness was constant throughout. However, I suppose it’s a little difficult to judge considering that we only read translations.

Many readers felt awkwardness and dissatisfying for ending of the Aeneid. I also feel little awkward about the ending but it is not dissatisfying to me. The dissatisfying ending would because Virgil couldn’t finish the ending before he die. Many people assume that the ending should continue the story, but I don’t agree with that. I think the ending make sense enough.

Valiant warrior Aeneas hesitates to kill his enemy Turnus, because Aeneas felt sympathy. I understand it could happen. Then, I also understand Aeneas killed Turnus after seeing Pallas’ baldric from him. The Pallas’ baldric brings revengeful thoughts to Aeneas which exceeds his sympathy.

How does Dido’s experience affect our perception of the work as a whole? To what degree do we have sympathy for her? Is she a victim of fate or has Aeneas mistreated her or her both?

In “The Aeneid,” destiny and fate are factors that define the character’s actions and desires. As love cripples Dido’s character, like an illness that slowly leads to her demise, the tragedy created lies in her pain and loss. Destiny, fate, and the will of the gods become powerful forces that both Dido and Aeneas cannot overcome. Unwilling to marry after the death of her husband, Cupid’s spell along with Juno and Venus’ interference become responsible forces in her horrific ending. Dido’s suicide is overshadowed by the diminishing of her qualities of strength, confidence, and power as a queen and individual, which were reflected within her prior to her obsessive love for Aeneas. Left alone and destroyed by Aeneas, this tragic romance changes the perception of the story brought on by the lack of control of their destinies. As readers, we become saddened and confused because despite Aeneas’s sympathetic and tender side, his ability to leave Dido and continue his quest and legacy for Rome represents both the belief that fate and his mistreatment were responsible for Dido’s death. The passion and volatility of her love emphasizes the image of her being a victim, weakened by Aeneas’ order, control, and loyalty to his prophecy.

What is the role of prophecies and/or fate in The Aeneid?

In this epic, Aeneas was aware of his fate and destiny.  The gods had made it clear that Aeneas has a specific path to Italy.  The prophecies that were displayed in this epic drove Aeneas to his actions and his life.  Life became chartered for Aeneas and he followed it without complaint.  Even when Dido asked him to stay because of her undying love for him, he left her and because it was the will of the gods and he had no free will in place.  This shows how much Aeneas allowed the gods and their prophecy to rule over him.