Dido In The Aeneid

As in Book I of "The Aeneid," Book II and Book III are authored by Publius Vergilius Maro, but the entirety of the books is written as exposition delivered by the character Aeneas. Aeneas could thus be considered the "author" of the piece, and his audience is Dido and her Phoenician people. Aeneas narrated the contents of the pieces as a response to Dido's request for his story, and his reluctance apparent in the opening lines suggests that he disagrees with the prospect of recalling such painful memories, but complies regardless. Therefore, Aeneas's motivation in relating his story (and, in a way, Virgil's as well) is to reveal what events transpired on his voyage from Troy to Carthage. His actions during the fall of Troy in particular lend

His actions following his dialogue with the priest demonstrate his tendency to engage in rash behavior, as he charges blindly into a battle that he was just told was pointless. Aeneas recalls that at the time, "...[Panthus] heaves a long-drawn breath: / ' 'Tis come, our fated day of death. / We have been Trojans: Troy has been: / She sat, but sits no more, a queen... Greece holds a city wrapt in flames....' So, stirred by Heaven and Orthys' son, / Forth into flames and spears I run..." (Virgil 307-308). Aeneas relates that Panthus informed him that Troy is facing its end as a city set aflame, and that its inhabitants have arrived at the day of their death, but these words served only to strengthen Aeneas's resolve and prompt him into the fray. Aeneas demonstrates his recklessness by charging into a battle immediately after being told the grim circumstances, which was a decision appropriate to the persona of a hero, but irrational nevertheless. His decision to enter the battle in the first place was the first indication of his character during the eventful fall of Troy, showcasing a person who values dramatic heroics over logic and forward thinking. His decision would contribute to the events that were yet to occur, and his behavior during such events would provide further insight into this aspect of his

He entered a battle when he had just learned of the uncertain odds, he nearly sacrificed the lives of his family while trying to act the hero in front of them, and he recovered from the death of his wife unnaturally quickly when faced with the prospect of leading a voyage. Though his experiences seem to depict the worst of them, he hints at evidence that he learned from these experiences and emerged a better person because of