The Price of Nationalism

The thematic overtones of fulfilling one’s responsibilities permeate the entirety of Virgil’s The Aeneid. Civic duty serves as the pivotal attribute directing the discourse taken by many, regardless of allegiance. At the time, this grand epic, at the surface, seemed to celebrate unwavering servitude to Rome and its mighty Caesar. This apparent celebration, however, also critiques such strict obedience. By closely examining Aeneas’s persistent adherence to the founding of Rome, along with his unquestionable concern for his Trojan brethren, it becomes apparent that the actions of this hero foreshadow the Roman concept of responsibility inherent in Virgil’s time.

Aeneas had to make many hard decisions and sacrifices, typically at the expense of his own immediate desires, to arrive at Italy. Aeneas, the destined forefather of Rome, was molded by the hardships he endured throughout his journey. Indeed, Aeneas’s affair with the beautiful matriarch of Carthage inevitably resulted in the reluctant sacrifice of immediate personal happiness in favor of responsibility, as well as genuine remorse for the pain he had brought upon his lover (p. 175). For Aeneas, responsibility out weighs emotions. However, the ensuing war against the Latins causes Aeneas to abandon his moral code. Aeneas’ descent into impulsive nationalism is apparent in the climatic between Turnus and himself. Turnus, in an act of desperation, solicits Aeneas to bring the corpse back to Daunus for burial (p. 402, l. 1270-3). However, right as he is about to spare Turnus; Aeneas, upon seeing his fallen comrade’s sword belt on Turnus, strikes him down without so much as an answer to the request. It is apparent that the barbaric savagery on Aeneas's part can only be attributed ...

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...policies and attitude of the Italian people. This is evident not only from his ruthless treatment of Turnus, but also from the history of Rome itself. After being a Republic for many years, Rome became a vast and powerful empire, subjecting its many colonies under the yoke of oppressive servitude, and ruled by means of a powerful and tyrannical Caesar. Therefore, because of this history, one can safely assume that Aeneas would go back on his promise to Latinus, just as his descendants will mistreat the many civilizations that Rome would eventually conquer.

Clearly, by the close of Virgil’s epic, Aeneas the kind and benevolent is but a distant memory. Driven to the brink by emotion and hardship, Aeneas's sense of Trojan nationalism would be eventually be strengthened, but at the cost of forsaking his responsibility and overall compassion for his fellow man at large.