by Roelien Steenkamp

Created on: March 24, 2010

VIRGIL AND HIS ATTITUDE TOWARDS HIS CHARACTERS AND AUGUSTAN IDEALS

Throughout the Aeneid readers are constantly reminded of the inevitability of the hero Aeneas’ victory- it is the destiny to found a city that will become the Roman Empire. Not only is Aeneas described to exemplify the Roman ideals that justify the position of Emperor Augustus, but the characters around him are contrasted with him - emphasizing his heroism, his sensibility and military ability. There is a shift from the Homeric hero who seeks personal glory (seen in Nisus ‘relentless longing’ for a heroic deed) and spoils (seen in Euryalus’ taking of spoils) to a Roman hero who feels sympathy even for the enemy (Aeneas is moved by the words of  both Lausus and Turnus - ‘and as he hesitated, Turnus’ words began to move him more and more’(M 12. 1254-1255) and who holds in high regard his loyalty towards his father Anchises (filial pietas) and the future destiny of Rome and the gods- thus even abandoning a life with Dido, a life of luxury and security. Although there have been many debates as to what Virgil’s attitude is towards these characters, the poet seems to, apart from occasionally setting an emotional tone (such as when Euryalus’s mother grieves), balance on both sides- he recites the ‘carelessness’ of the Rutulians during the night expedition of Nisus and Euryalus, yet he also succeeds in letting the reader feel sympathy for a bloodthirsty Rutulian such as Mezentius upon his son’s death. It is very clear that although Virgil thinks highly of Homeric ideals, yet he displays how these ideals have long been outdated and can no longer be a code to his fellow Romans, as the cost of human suffering due to personal glory is enough to make both armies weep (stressed through the weeping of Euryalus’ mother- ‘Her wailing moved their minds; a moan of sorrow passed through all; their force is broken, numbed for war.’ (M 9.662-664.)

The episode of Nisus And Euryalus  (M 9.211-977)

The episode of Nisus and Euryalus is one of extreme friendship and devotion to comradeship, two qualities praised by Virgil. In the opening lines, it is clear their friendship is admirable, ‘Near him stood Euryales, his comrade’ (M 9.239-237) Nisus wiser in years than Euryalus, is prepared to go on a journey alone in order to prevent the death of younger more handsome Euryalus (his handsomeness indicating homoerotic

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