Aeneas Noble Qualities of the Romans - Literature review Example

Aeneas’ noble qualities for the Romans Introduction The Aeaneid is a Greek poem written by Virgil whose work comes out as brilliant, influential, and original. It is categorized into a founding myth since it reveals on how something started. He maintained the outlines of Holmer’s Aeneas while at the same time developing the character. Virgil succeeds in changing a warrior hero into a man and who later influences the entire world for a long time. Aeneid recounts a series of Mediterranean adventures leading to the eventual homecoming of Aeneas after accomplishing his mission of finding Rome. Aeneas destiny, therefore, is to find the Roman race within Italy1. Aeneas with fellow Trojans flees the city of Troy after its attack and destruction by the Greeks. Thus, through the Mediterranean Sea, he escapes and sails to Italy to find Rome. The journey is difficult since he had to meet and deal with the various challenges in his pursuit for Rome, which would become his new city. Aeneas in his mission of finding a new Rome lays amoral fabric for an ideal Rome that every Roman must emulate. Therefore, Virgil uses Aeneas to reveal his expectation and hopes for a new Rome and the manner by which inhabitants should conduct themselves. Qualities that Romans should exhibit Respect for the will of the gods Aeneas reveres prophecy of the gods by accepting to pursue their demands. He behaves honorably towards them and continually seeks to establish their wishes and strives to conform to them. On receiving instructions from the gods concerning his mission, he accepts unconditionally. Moreover, realizing that Aeneas’ mission of finding a new city could be derailed, god Jupiter sends god Mercury to remind him to continue with the pursuit of the mission. Despite being in the comfort of his newfound lover Dido, Aeneas rejects the love and comfort and respects Jupiter’s command by doing as he is directed2. Thus, he subordinates personal desire to duty by abandoning his feelings and comfort on Dido. Consequently, when the god of River Tiberinus appears to Aeneas through a dream and informs him to form an alliance with Arcadian King Evander, he obeys. He teams up with Evander who even gives him his son, Pallas in addition to troops to assist him in the war3. His respect for the gods earns him favor from them. Just like Aeneas, Romans should show respect to the gods by obeying them and following their instructions. Despite the situation one is in, he should always strive to follow the commands of the gods since in most cases it always leads in achieving one’s dreams and ambitions in life. Like Aeneas, Romans need to should subordinate their personal desires when summoned by the gods and ensure that they follow the wishes and commands since it means well for them. When Romans obey and follow instructions from the gods, they will in most cases emerge victorious since they will have the blessings and favor from the gods accompanying them. Therefore, when Romans respect the gods, Rome will never experience miseries attributed to curses associated or caused by the gods due to disobedience. This will ensure the presence of a peaceful, safe, and prosperous Roman nation. A leader capable of motivating his men in times of adversity Aeneas was a leader who motivated his men during difficult moments and brought them to safety and success. After being defeated and thus the destruction of Troy, Aeneas encourages and leads the remaining small group of survivors in pursuit of a new home in Italy. Thus, despite encountering several tribulations, Aeneas never gives up and leads his men in ensuring the accomplishment of the mission assigned to him by the gods. For example, this group had attempted to construct a new city on two occasions but were driven and prevented by plagues and bad omen4. Moreover, he loses his father before reaching Carthage. Consequently, he recognizes the weariness of other people in the journey thus sympathizing them. Therefore, he ensures that the spirit of the fleet remains high by delivering encouraging speeches5. Furthermore, when they sail from Troy, the goddess Juno because of his hatred for the Trojans conspires with god of winds to send a storm thereby affecting the journey and forcing them to take refuge in Carthage. Truly, these were trying moments, which required a strong-hearted person. However, these occurrences never distracted or demoralized Aeneas. He took them positively thereby acting as sources of motivation in his pursuit of a new city. Just like Aeneas, Romans are expected to remain focused and motivated in life despite encountering difficulties of life. Despite the prevailing conditions, Romans should always view challenges and events as opportunities to further their dreams and ambitions in life. This is because accepting challenges, as part of life meant to motivate people enables them overcome the obstacles thereby ensuring that Romans strive to attain their goals. Remaining motivated during times of adversity will ensure that Romans achieve their life goals and missions just like Aeneas. They should also motivate fellow citizens and ensure they do not give up when experiencing adversities. Through this, Romans will emerge successful in their life undertakings thereby minimizing miseries and problems in a new city. Piety This is the virtue of having sympathy towards the weak and vulnerable in society. Aeneas exemplifies this noble societal value during his life. In the Aeneid, he pities those suffering in the society and supports them thereby eliminating their misery. For instance, he pities the condition of his father and son after the destruction of the Troy city and offers support to them6. Further, in one of the images, he is depicted weeping in Carthage when he reflects over pictures of the Trojan War. “There… things: too/ things … mind” 7.Further, he pities Dido on discovering that she is a widow and the conditions that led to the condition. These instances depict the noble side of Aeneas and portray him as considerate and understanding. Therefore, Romans should emulate this virtue and practice it in the society. They should show piety to individuals experiencing various challenges and problems in life and try to understand and offer help when necessary. When Romans emulate this virtue, the society will have less misery and the citizens will feel valued and cherished by the society thereby improving the quality of life in the city. A person capable of great compassion and sorrow Aeneas displays various incidences of sorrow and compassion in the Aeneid. For example, when in Carthage, he narrates to Dido about the attack, the fighting, and capture of Troy. He tells Dido about the escape, the rescuing his father, Archises, and son, Aschanius. Despite losing his wife, Creusa in the battle, he never minded or gave up but decided to rescue the remaining family members. By rescuing the father and son, Aeneas shows his compassion to them since he removes them from danger. When escaping from Troy, he carried his father while held his son thus, ensuring they were safe. Moreover, when Troy was burning, Aeneas also managed to escape with hearth gods representing the fallen city thereby preventing their destruction8. These actions show of the caring nature of Aeneas despite losing the wife and the suffering and destruction of his home. Further, he shows concern and compassion for the unwilling as well as the crippled by allowing them to stay behind. Like Aeneas, Romans should have compassion to fellow citizens. Thus, they are expected to emulate Aneneas’ action by caring for other people in the society. They should care and understand the physically challenged including individuals with various forms of problems and in the society. Romans should rescue the weak from danger more so when in a risky situation even when it means risking of life. By doing this, Romans will be showing love and care for the weak as well as the vulnerable in the society. This will enhance the lives of the affected individuals and ensure they lead comfortable lives devoid of miseries and misunderstanding. This action will improve the living standards of Romans and ensure that every individual feel loved and appreciated. Fearsome warrior Aeneas emulates his fearsome character in the Aeneid during the war. He leads fellow Trojans in addition to other troops to achieve the mission of establishing the Roman city. After receiving assistance from the Etruscan and Archadian allies, Aeneas marches on to fight the Italians. Despite losing some of the Trojans, he never gives up and continues to fight the Italians. After coming from voyage, her finds that Pallas has killed by Turnus. He becomes furious and responds by killing the Italians in an attempt to revenge the death of his ally’s son, Evander. Therefore, Aeneas is fearsome since he accepts to face Turnus in a hand-to-hand duel9. A drive to revenge the death of Palls makes him fearless thereby challenging Turnus and killing him in the end. Thus, at the end of the wars, Aeneas emerges victorious and kills his enemies. Romans should emulate the fearsome nature of Aeneas by ensuring that they do not fear their enemies. They should always remain determined in their pursuit of goals and missions just like Aeneas. Moreover, remaining fearsome during instances of difficulties will ensure that Romans becomes successful in achieving their goals and missions in life. In conclusion, to ensure that every Roman conforms to Aeneas behavior, they should respect and obey the will of gods, demonstrate leadership by motivating people in times of adversaries, show pity towards the weak and vulnerable, have great compassion and sorrow to other people and become fearsome individuals. References Virgil, and Robert Fitzgerald. 1990. The Aeneid. New York: Vintage Books. Read More