Leadership, Loyalty, and Humil
The Aeneid of Virgil picks up where The Iliad of Homer leaves off. After the epic Trojan war left the city of Troy in total ruin, it is up to Aeneas, a Trojan prince, to help lead the remaining Trojans out of Troy, and to set sail upon a journey to fulfill his destiny. Aeneas' destiny is to found Rome after overcoming many divine obstacles. Like the Greeks, the Trojans honored their leaders of heroic stature. But what is it that sets certain men apart from the rest? What are the elements that make up a hero? Fortunately for the people in the society of the Aeneid, Aeneas displayed all the qualities that they valued and in turn, qualified him as a genuine hero. As the poem progresses, we learn that while Aeneas can be compared to those who came before him, he has his own unique attributes that set him apart from the likes of Odysseus, and other heroes of the past. Like the other heroes before him, Aeneas proves himself to be a good hero by exhibiting admirable qualities like courage and leadership, however Virgil succeeds in giving him a quality that is rare among other heroes: humility. Humility was viewed in a positive light in the society of the Aeneid, because it was seen as a virtue. Many Greek heroes displayed pride,
Pallas decides to help Aeneas by siding with him and the rest of the Trojans. 428-431) Aeneas' words reveal an eagerness for leadership in order to defend the city and his people. He shows his loyalty to his father, Anchises, when he tends to him after the fire in Troy, when Anchises refuses to leave. 1072-1078) With the knowledge of the Trojan's utmost devotion, Aeneas realizes that he must become more confident to emerge as their leader. There is another event that takes place in Book Five that depicts Aeneas' natural leadership attribute. One reason that Virgil might have added this part of the book is because he wanted to portray Aeneas not only as a heroic warrior, but also as a good ruler of a state in times of peace. His submission to the will of the gods enables him to put his personal needs and even familiar duties in the second place. It is then that Aeneas prepares himself for battle. By seeking help from higher powers, Aeneas shows that he doesn't consider himself as a higher power. Even in times of peace, the Trojans could appreciate his good leadership qualities. However, when his eye catches a glimpse of Turnus' belt, any compassion that he might have had escapes him as he sinks his sword in Turnus' chest. It is when his ships are caught in the storm raised by Aeolus for Juno, whereupon Aeneas calls upon the gods for help (Bk.
Common topics in this essay:
Bk II,
Bk XII,
Aeneid Aeneas,
Aeolus Juno,
Trojan Acestes',
Book Aeneas,
Troy Anchises,
Trojans Pallas,
Aeneas Turnus,
Aeneas Romans,
society aeneid,
bk ii,
rest trojans,
aeneas loyalty,
times peace,
bk xii,
family loyalty,
strong sense,
heroes aeneas,
sense duty,
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Acceptance Essays
