Aeneas defends his leaving to the Queen
Why does Aeneas leave Dido? What obligates him to follow his destiny? Aeneas
is a duty- bound soldier who has to pursue the will of the gods. Becoming overwhelmed
with love, Aeneas and Dido are captured in their lust for love. Aeneas soon realizes that
he left Dido against his will and loves her so very much. Aeneas' duty is to follow the will
of the gods but he has to be firm in his ways and not let the desire for love get in the way
Aeneas' fate is pre-determined by the gods so leaving his lover, Dido, is the only
way to fulfill his fate. The prophecy of Aeneas is predetermined and says that he will
found and establish the city of Lavinium in Latium. In relation to this prophecy, Aeneas
has an obligation to leave Dido to fulfill his fate by the gods. As Jupiter says to Venus, "
Unfolding secret fated things to come-/ In Italy he will fight a massive war,/ Beat down
fierce armies, them for the people there/ Establish city walls and a way of life " (
1.354-357). Furthermore, Aeneas is duty bound to his destiny and his fate. Aeneas leaves
Dido because he is going by the duty of the gods. He reveals this to his mother, Venus, "
I am Aeneas, duty-bound, and known " ( 1.519). In addition Aeneas is the epidemy of the
Trojan race. Aeneas embodies the values of the Trojan people saying that he is the Trojan
and the one that everyone looks for. As Aeneas says to his people, " Before your eyes I
stand/ Aeneas the Trojan, that same one you look for/ Saved from the sea off Libya.
Aeneas is a duty-bound soldier and he has to follow the will of the gods.
Aeneas for a moment in his life forgets about his destiny and is overwhelmed by
the desire of love. Juno, wife of Jupiter, wants Aeneas and Dido to fall madly in love with
each other by causing a thunderstorm and seclude them in a cavern. This seclusion in the
cavern causes Aeneas for a shor...