Fate and Destiny HUM 2051: Civilization I Fall 2009 Dr. Perdigao October 19, 2009

Virgil’s Frames As “eulogy” of Roman values (early reference to Fides and Vesta [939]), the cost at which they are achieved and sustained Translation from prose to poetic form (not always complete hexameter lines) After completing the poem, he tries to fix remaining lines but does not change chronological sequence

New Order Aeneas’ epithet is “pious” while the Greek hero’s physical and intellectual traits are emphasized; Aeneas’ ethics, piety or devotion to his family, gods, and country are emphasized Nostos=homecoming... Journey Pietas=deep respect and reverence for one’s father, family, country, ancestors, and the gods Augustus (Julius Caesar’s grandnephew): rule=civic renewal of Rome, revival of traditional religious devotion, and the fostering of a new patriotism. The arts become important vehicles for the ideals reflected in Virgil’s work

Historical Slant “By thus having the plot of the last half of his epic take on characteristics of civil strife, Vergil also compresses a thousand years of history and centers his reader’s attention on the events of the decades immediately preceding the poem’s composition, that is, on the concluding years of Rome’s century of fraternal struggle, specifically from the death of Julius Caesar, on the ides of March, 44 BCE (Vergil himself was twenty-six at the time), until 2 September 31, when Octavian, Caesar’s great-nephew and adopted son, defeated Antony at Actium to bring the warring to an end” (Putnam 115).

Comparison of Terms Achilles and Odysseus are motivated by “obligation by personal gain and glory and display heroic wrath” while Aeneas is driven by obligation or duty (pietas) (Quartarone 202). Juno’s wrath as motivation—like anger of Poseidon ( Odyssey ) and wrath of Achilles ( Iliad ); her anger over Dido and Carthage, injured honor (202) Venus—Thetis ( Iliad ), Athena ( Odyssey ), as protectresses Mercury intervenes to tell Aeneas that he must forsake personal glory and personal relationships (like/unlike when Hermes tells Odysseus that he must leave Calypso)

Close Readings Opening lines, invocation to the muse, conceptual shift “Is this / The palm for loyalty? This our power restored?” (937) Response: “fated things to come,” the “gift of empire without end” (938). From mythical beginnings to reality Dido’s story, betrayal, Sychaeus, Pygmalion Venus’ treatment of Aeneas, disguise Venus’ spell Ascanius/Iulus (“while Ilium stood”) Stories retold, caution of Trojans emphasized

Laocoön and his Sons/The Laocoön Group (Book II, 958)

Revisions Hector appears in dream, like Achilles in underworld? (960) Hector’s story: “How changed / From that proud Hector who returned to Troy / Wearing Achilles’ armor” (960, L ). “Trojans we have been; Ilium has been; / The glory of the Teucrians is no more” (961) Cassandra’s story: “dragged / By her long hair out of Minerva’s shrine, / Lifting her brilliant eyes in vain to heaven” (963, L535). Priam’s story: “in the very midst of death / Would neither hold his peace nor spare his anger” (967, L ).

Revisions “And my dear father’s image came to mind / As our king, just his age, mortally wounded, / Gasped his life away before my eyes. / Creusa came to mind, too, left alone” (968, L ). Evoking pity “Never before so clear—in a pure light / Stepping before me, radiant through the night, / My loving mother came: immortal, tall, / And lovely as the lords of heaven know her. / Catching me by the hand, she held me back” (968, L ). Controlling rage

Creusa who? Creusa’s words: “If you are going out to die, take us / To face the whole thing with you.... / When you have gone, to whom is Iulus left? / Your father? Wife?—one called that long ago” (971, L ). Revision of Andromache’s words? Here, asking for new role but as forward-thinking as Lysistrata? [ : journey, loss of Creusa, as shade, patterns of 3s]: What happens to Creusa? What is Aeneas’ reaction? Does this parallel his treatment of Dido? (i.e., how does “duty- bound” Aeneas treat women? [and you thought Odysseus was bad!])