Book One: The Storm and The Prophecy

The Prophecy There is a play on words in Latin between fatum (fate) and fatur (what is said by Jupiter). There is a deliberate pun on the words urbs (city) and orbs (world). The implication is that Rome (city) is master of the world. This prophecy shows that Jupiter is the god of Rome which is consolation for the fact that Juno is Carthage’s (remember for Book IV). Myth becomes history in this prophecy.

Is Jupiter deceiving people in this prophecy or is he just trying to appease Juno and Venus? The prophecy shows a deterministic view of history – everything is predetermined by Fate. The prophecy shows that Aeneas’ suffering has a purpose (he will found a great city). This is a less futile than The Odyssey. The prophecy establishes Rome’s heritage and the Julian Line.

Quotes For these Points

Issues with The Prophecy There seems to be a condemnation of the civil war and the “impious fury”. There are some problems of chronology which are glossed over (for example, the Trojans get to Italy but it is actually three hundred years before the historical foundation of Rome).

The Storm The Storm acts as a symbol for the turmoil of human emotions. It is also a symbol for the turmoil of Fate. Juno and Jupiter act as a contrasting pair. Anger versus serenity, light versus dark.

Quotes for these Points

Aeneas in the Storm Aeneas is not specifically mentioned until about one hundred lines in, and when he is, he is afraid. He is angry that he did not die at Troy. Yet he encourages his men and covers up his sadness. He covers his own emotions for the greater good. This is very Stoic.

Quotes for these Points

Neptune/Aeneas Simile Neptune has the power to calm the storm in Aeneas’ heart and at sea. Neptune/Aeneas comparisons. Both “calm their hearts”. Aeneas/Augustus comparisons. Neptune’s statesman figure represents Aeneas which in turn represents Augustus. Aeneas is like a statesman calming a crowd. This is a reversal of the Homeric usage. Usually a crowd compared to a storm. Aeneas is a leader of men, a community hero not an individualist. The ship represents the state. It is a representation of civil war (drawn from Horace Odes I.14).

Other Themes: Carthage Juno’s wrath is given an historical (Carthage and the abandonment of Dido and then the Punic Wars) and sexual (Jupiter’s desire for the Trojan Ganymede) motive. The words “of such great anger” immediately precedes the mention of Carthage. The two things are inherently linked.

Other Themes: furor and pietas Aeneas’ main quality is his pietas. He is a Roman hero and he is a Stoic hero. He must fight his passions and make sure that his piety for his state, family, and religion prevail.

Other Themes: Homer The whole book opens with a storm which is very evocative of the huge storms in The Odyssey. The threat of plague evokes book I of The Iliad. The opening line “I sing of arms and a man” refers to The Iliad (arms) and The Odyssey (a man). The extended similes are very much based on Homer but made Virgil’s own (see the statesman prophecy).

Other themes: Roman History The prophecy establishes the mythical and factual history of Rome. The connection between Augustus and Aeneas is begun. War is set up as a theme of Roman History and Aeneas’ struggle. Nationalism is evident in the prophecy.

Other themes: The Gods Are the Roman gods Homeric or more moral and philosophical. Virgil does not really answer this question but he does raise it.