The Role of the Gods and Fate in Virgils The Aeneid Essay -- Aeneid V

The Role of the Gods and batch in Virgils The AeneidAre the deeds of mortal characters in the Aeneid controlled by the gods or by fate? Aeneas must fulfill the will of the gods, while stable the wrath of other gods, all the while being a proper predecessor of Augustus and founder of the Roman people. Of course, the Trojan is successful because he gives himself up to these other obligations, while those who resist the will of the gods, Dido and Turnus, die sad deaths.Juno, the pouf of gods, attempts to destroy Aeneas and his work force in Book I of the Aeneid. The city of Carthage is Junos favorite, and it has been prophesized that the look sharp of the Trojans will one day destroy that city. This is too much for Juno to extend as another Trojan, Paris, has already scorned her. And so she calls on male monarch Aeolus, the god of the winds, telling him to bring a great storm subdue upon Aeneas? fleet. Aeolus obeys and unleashes a fierce hurricane upon the battle-wearied Troja ns. However, Neptune, the god of the sea, feels the storm over his dominion he criticizes Aeolus for overstepping his bounds, and calms the waters just as Aeneas fleet seems doomed. Seven ships argon left, and they learning ability for the nearest land in sight, the coast of Libya. Aeneass mother, Venus sees the Trojans poor raise and pleads to Jupiter to end their suffering. Jupiter assures her that Aeneas will eventually find his promised home in Italy, and that both of his descendants, Romulus and Remus, will found the mightiest empire in the world. Then Jupiter sends a god down to the Phoenicians, the people of Carthage, to make sure they are welcoming to the Trojans. Juno hears that the Trojans are destined to found a city that will destroy her Carthage. That city is Rome, and ... ... and in an angry mob set fire to the fleet. The Trojan men see the smoke, rush up the beach and throw water on the ships, but the impatient does not stop. Finally, Aeneas prays to Jupiter to s ave the fleet, and immediately a rainstorm comes, place out the flames. The goddesses Juno and Venus continue their quarrel by further hindrance in the journey of the Trojans. At this point it almost seems to be enlarged the gods are driving the plot, not the hero. Aeneas has been reduced to a reactionary subprogram as the different factions on Olympus duke it out over his fate, and send both aid or abuse down to the Trojans. Incapable to stop the burning of his fleet, he pitifully begs Jupiter to either help or kill him, so disheartened is he at his arbitrary maltreatment by the gods. flora CitedGransden, Karl W. Virgil The Aeneid. Cambridge Cambridge UP, 1990.