So if you've read Book One, what do you think of the hero of this epic? Can you make any comparisons to the heroes of the Homeric epics, Odysseus (Ulysses) and Achilles?
And what exactly are the themes Vergil intends to examine within this poem?
What is the motivation for Juno's hatred of the Trojans?
Take some time and respond briefly to any or all of these. I understand the word limit is a limit on the scope of your thoughts, so feel free to use e-mail instead.
I plan to make my next post on or about July 15.
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3 comments:
I'm not sure if this counts as a theme, or if it'd be necessary to divide it up into more specific topics, but the gods and divinity play a major roll, or so it seems so far. One thing we talked about in gov school was how the Aeneid helps to justify Augustus's claim to divinity, because of saying that Julius Caesar has been deified by the gods themselves, making Augustus dei filius. And how Julius Caesar is related to Romulus (who is son of Mars) who is descendant of Iulus, son of Aeneas and grandson of Venus. (Are there any other divine/powerful people in Caesar's 'family tree'?)
Another thing with the gods is divine power and will. A major example of this is again Jupiter's speech. The fates of these people have been decided, and Jupiter has not changed his mind. Also, Neptune is in charge of the seas, not King Aeolus. Which also leads into battles amongst the gods, using people as their pawns. Juno's hatred seems to stem from not being chosen as the most beautiful and because she wants to be worshiped. That paints a pretty picture for her, doesn't it? But she's not the star of the show, Venus and Mars are (as far as gods go).
I've run out of time, so that's all I have to say for now.
Quite right. The question posed in Book One ("Can there be such anger in heavenly minds?") seems open-ended, but Vergil intends to make a very certain point about human politics, in general, and about Augustus' regime, in specific, by raising it. To properly examine the point Vergil is making requires an understanding of the whole of Aeneas' actions throughout the poem coupled with a solid understanding of the Roman political systems, including their origins, evolutions, and debasement in the late Republic.
In Book One, consider how Aeneas reacts to the blight of Juno's storm. Too compare Juno's bribery of Aeolus with the kind that was commonplace, perhaps even necessary, in Vergil and Augustus' Rome.
Furthermore, the theme necessarily ties outwardly into questions about the Roman religion in general. It seems Augustus wanted Vergil not only to tie his reign to divine origins but also to rejuvenate piety and reverence in an otherwise skeptical if not cynical populace.
The question then becomes what kind of hero would be compelling enough to inspire reverence from the irreverent, loyalty from the disloyal?
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