Examples Of Turnus In Aeneid

In The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli, the author states that to be a ruler, a ruler must follow certain rules to maintain his power. Machiavelli proposed that to be a successful leader, a prince must be feared rather than loved, if you cannot be both. Feelings and emotions interferes with tough decisions. Although Aeneas and Turnus in Aeneid by Virgil are both successful leaders, neither fully represents Machiavelli’s theory because they are both feared and love
A leader who is feared does not have a sincere relationship with people unlike love enables a mutual relationship between the people and their leader. When you are feared, people will avoid any negative consequences. Nevertheless, when you are loved, people will adore your loyalty

and people will enable them to go above and beyond for you. In The Prince by Machiavelli, the author states, “a question arises: whether it be better to be loved than feared or feared than loved? It may be answered that one should wish to be both, but, because it is difficult to unite them in one person, it is much safer to be feared than loved, when, of the two, either must be dispensed with.” Machiavelli believed that as a ruler it was preferable to be feared by the people. Love is an intense feeling of affection and attachment between two people. While fear is someone that you are afraid of. A prince needs to watch his reputation and watch his back because his enemies could be plotting a devious plan behind his back.
In Aeneid by Virgil, the author describes how Aeneas and Turnus display the necessary traits of a successful leader described in Machiavelli’s theory.

Aeneas was the protagonist hero and a central character who presents his devotion and responsibility as a leader. Turnus, on the other hand, was an antagonist character. He was the leader of the Latin militaries who was against the settlement of Trojans in Latinum. Both characters show Machiavelli’s theory on how to be a powerful leader but with different characteristic traits. They show great leadership styles however, one character did not fully follow Machiavelli’s main

concept.
Aeneas achieved his loyalty to his people.

As Machiavelli pointed out, it is better to be scared than to be adored. However, Aeneas failed Machiavelli’s concept because Aeneas was both loved and feared. Aeneas was a leader and people were feared of him although, he was loved because of his likable character. Aeneas was a protagonist hero who was able to achieves his duty to his family, his city and to the gods. Aeneas and his fellow Trojans such as his friends, his father and his son were the few people who not killed when Trojan war fell. The crew decided to leave the city of Troy and sailed to Italy where Aeneas was bound to find Rome. He recalled his conversation with Dido, a ruler of Carthage and had an intimate relationship with Aeneas, about the uselessness to continue fighting any longer, and that he must leave Troy to find his family. In the following quote of Book II, Aeneas found his father, Anchises, in the burning fire of Troy and try to save him. “Did you suppose, my father, that I could tear myself away and leave you? Unthinkable; how could a father say it? Now if it pleases the powers about that nothing stands of this great city; if your heart is set on adding your own death and ours to that of Troy, the door’s wide open for it.” Aeneas tried to convince his father to leave in the fire, but Anchises refused since he has lived and suffered long enough. Aeneas was able to save his family. He carried his father, Anchises, on his shoulder and his son, Iulus, and

his wife, Creusa, to leave the fire. Nevertheless, when Aeneas reached his destination, he found out his wife was missing. Aeneas turned back home to the city to save his wife, once again, risking his life. This shows that Aeneas was devoted his family to risk his life to bring Creusa back to safety. However, Aeneas was too late to save his wife. He simply accepted his fate through the gods and continue his journey to Italy. Virgil demonstrates that Aeneas was sensitive and a compassionate man. In other Machiavelli concept, he can be described as a lion and a fox, unlike Turnus.
Aeneas’s story tells us that since he was a leader and hero, he was both feared and loved. Aeneas’s character shows his complete loyalty to his people. His love and his faithfulness are demonstrated when he fled of falling Trojan War. Being a leader, people will be feared because he has the highest position in the hierarchy. But at the same time, Aeneas’s character is likable. His character shows that he was a devoted to his path and that he was a dedicated man. He easily fulfils being a patriotic leader with his people. He provides for his people to provide a safe harbor when they were on their mission by making sure people have food to eat and that he motivates people by reminding of their destined homeland. His character was more loved by the people. In contrast, Aeneas did not fully succeeded Machiavelli’s main concept. Aeneas was portrayed both feared and love.
Turnus was portrayed to be “the rash prince” because he lacks control. He was a feared leader because he was fury in the battlefield, however, he used his emotions instead of thinking rationally. Virgil, the author demonstrates Turnus as an antagonist person and the prince of the Rutalian tribe and the leader of the Latin forces who oppose the settlement of the Trojans in Latinum. He is Aeneas’ antagonist. He is a hotheaded and portrayed as compulsive prince. What makes him different from Aeneas is that Turnus is excessively proud of himself and he has a passion of war. He has a passion of war, unlike Aeneas, he has lust for bloodshed. He was against Aeneas and he was determined to fight Aeneas in the battle even though he will know that he will lose. He has the confidence and determination in his ability to battle. When Turnus was about to fight with Aeneas in Book XII in Aeneas, Turnus knew that he will lose in the battle because it was fated for Aeneas to receive the land and marry Lavinia, who is the suitor for Turnus. King Latinus who is Turnus father and Lavinia forced Turnus not to battle with Aeneas. King Latinus states, “The anguish you ear for my sake, generous king, for my sake, I beg you, wipe it from your mind” and Lavinia states, “One Favor now, I pray you. Refrain from going hand to hand with the Trojans” force Turnus not to battle with Aeneas. But however, Turnus was angry that fate that forced him to give up the woman he loved to someone like Aeneas. He could not accept this fate, so he showed his anger to Aeneas. Turnus showed his anger by fighting Aeneas. The more Turnus craves Lavinia and to fight for her, the more he wants to battle. It shows that Turnus’s lacks of emotions clouds battle judgements. He was being irrational with his emotions that he did not thought of rational decisions. Virgil, the author, tells us that anger can drive a person to the most irrational decisions. Turnus went to fight the battle knowing that he certainly will lose the battle and die, a permanent fate that cannot be changed. The problem is that love is an intimate relationship between two people and can affect with other things. Turnus wants Lavinia for himself and love is a strong emotion and he just cannot give his love to Lavinia to Aeneas.
Unfortunately, Turnus failed Machiavelli’s main concept. Turnus was portrayed as feared leader because he shows his anger in the battlefield. Turnus has the passion for bloodshed. However, his passion in the battlefield made him weak because he was clouded with emotions. He knew that Aeneas destined was to be with love of his life who is Lavinia. He was furious because that was his woman and that was why they fought. Turnus can also relate as Machiavelli’s fox. Turnus was strong but he was weak because he was not clear with his emotions. Instead of worrying entirely with emotions, he should have fought Aeneas rationally. In Book 12, Turnus lack of anger sealed his fate which is death. He was unable to control his anger and emotions. His passion was described as compulsive and greedy. Because of this, Turnus actions resulted in death when Aeneas ended Turnus life in the end of Book 12. Turmus was a successful leader in the teachings of Machiavelli, but at the same time he did not fully achieve Machiavelli’s concept. Turnus did not use both the lion and fox concept when he fough Aeneas. He only used the lion idea. A lion who is strong but stupid while fox is smart but weak, a successful leader must be both to conquer his power. Turnus is a lion because he is a strong leader, but his lack of emotions controlled showed a lack of intelligence.
In conclusion, Aeneas and Turnus in Aeneid are both successful leader in their own unique ways in. However, both characters did not fully succeeded Machiavelli’s concept about “is it better to be feared than love, if you cannot be both.” They both failed because each character was both adored and threatened. Aeneas was portrayed to be a likable leader while Turnus was considered a terror leader. Both characters have different characteristic traits and it shows that their traits made them who they are as a result.