The Aeneid

Characteristics of Characters

Aeneas

• Pietas-Duty to his family and his country. “Fond Father”. Goes back to save his father, carries him on his back. Son walks beside him. Planned to die in battle in Troy. Searches for his wife. “Father Aeneas”. Celebrates the anniversary of dad’s death with sacrifices and funeral games. We also see his duty when he takes control of the ship after Palinarus dies.REPRESENTS Augustus.
• Dido-Sense of duty seen here when he leaves her to go to Italy “a man apart, devoted to his mission”. Many say he treats her badly with no emotion as he does not tell her where he is going, does not invite her, is not grateful or kind for what she did for him and says “Nor Have I ever offered you marriage”.
• Corporate man-Gives assurance and advice to men. Provides for them in Libya by killing the stag and motivating them. Holds games and has the savvy to announce who won (Euryalus). The people never question his judgement
• Brave/Strong-Slaughters in Book 10. “No equal in field of battle. Adopts disguise of Greeks at Troy. Also fights Turnus in single combat (wants peace).
• Religious-Often performs funeral rites and sacrifices-Misenus, Pallas dies. He seeks counsel from the gods when they are leaving a new country or arriving at another-Apollo prophecies.
• Human qualities-Has emotions-When his wife Creusa is lost (tries to hold her three times) and when he sees Dido in underworld he cries. At beginning is a reluctant hero, wishes he had died when he is in Juno’s storm in Book I. He also cries when he sees a panel of the Trojan War when with Evander. We see his kindness when he agrees a truce with Latin envoys.
• Order-symbolises order in contrast to Turnus-chaos.
• Instrument of fate.

Dido

• Heroic-Fled her homeland because of outside circumstances and founds Carthage. Said she is as beautiful as Diana and is so friendly when she welcomes the Trojans and lets them stay.
• Order-Like Aeneas she symbolises order and maintains it in Carthage.
• Falters-Once in love with Aeneas she begins to neglect the city and building projects.
• Fire simile- “on fire with love” “the inward fire eats the soft marrow away”. “inward fire eating her away”. “all aflame”. Dies on a pyre.
• Frenzy-Once she finds out that Aeneas is leaving she begins to go mad and her passion is like fire. She then curses Aeneas that he will die before his time. and his men. She kills herself with his sword (legitimate way to end her life). Once in underworld and back with her husband she ignores him.