Aeneas, the Anti-hero of Aeneid Essay

Gilgamesh has his own flaws like anyone else, but his actions concerning courageousness and bravery make him stick out from other heroes. When Gilgamesh declares, “because of the evil that is in the land, we will go to the forest, and destroy the evil; for in the forest lives Humbaba” (Dalley, 67), it shows that Gilgamesh is not afraid of challenging even the most ferocious creatures that threaten him and the people around him like Aeneas when his town was being raided. Aeneas knew his duty was to protect his people, and it was better to die in battle, and have his name remembered for his bravery in protecting Troy. A true hero fights to the end and does everything he is capable to accomplish what must be done. Even if he is to fall, Gilgamesh states, “I leave behind me a name that endures” (Dally, 67). Gilgamesh lives this quote out when he chooses to go fight Humbaba with Enkidu; he also lives

In classical literature writers often portray characters as heroic or as brave leaders by the way they act in situations that they find themselves in. The classical text Aeneid written my Virgil is set in 12th century BC, we follow the journey of Aeneas as he leads his people to safety and founds a new Trojan state (later to be Rome). Virgil portrays Aeneas as a Trojan hero and a symbol of Roman values. He is a dutiful servant of fate and of the gods, he is a strong leader of his people, and he is a devoted father and son. He demonstrates appropriate pietas by devotion to his family, country, and destiny, which helps him to develop into a great hero and leader.

Although love and fate are both integral components of the epic, grief is the most prevalent force throughout the piece. Grief unites the epic together, as it persists throughout its entirety. Even from the initial description of Aeneas, neither love nor fate is mentioned, but his grief is highlighted, “Burdened and sick at heart,/He feigned hope in his look, and inwardly/Contained his anguish” (1.284-286). Aeneas experiences much sorrow throughout the epic: exile from his country, the death of his father, hardships while trying to reach Italy, the loss of several of his companions, and many more. Even when grief is not the primary focus, it always persists in the background and even tally returns to the forefront.

Although to remain pious and to remain loyal are virtues that every roman should possess, there are some costs that sometimes outweigh the rewards. By following his destiny, Aeneas was put in an enormous amount of danger, that he would not have been put in if he had not fled Troy, in search for Rome. When he first leaves Troy, he knows that he may have to put himself in dangerous positions, but he is willing to do whatever it takes to please the Gods. Also, Aeneas lost nearly everything that he once had during the course of the poem. He lost his father, his lover, and ultimately, he loses his identity. Losing your own identity is the greatest loss that anyone could suffer and Aeneas does experience that loss. These losses that Aeneas endures, greatly outweigh the rewards that Aeneas acquires in the end of the poem. Aeneas defeats Turnus and gains the Roman empire, but that is how the story is left. There are no celebrations, there is no wedding for Aeneas and Lavinia. It is just over. The reward is that he has accomplished what he set out to do, but the reader is not shown how or if Aeneas is rewarded in a physical way.

Aeneas is interested in the depictions and they do well to ignite the fight inside of him, but he is still left wondering what the true cause is. As Virgil puts it, he “didn’t know the stories. /He shouldered his descendants’ glorious fate” (XIII.730-731). Once again, Virgil shows us how Aeneas is left to carry out the tasks placed upon him by the gods, doing his job dutifully without asking questions. He is once again playing the role of the passive hero, for he is obeying orders and fighting for a cause that he does not truly

He is unsure of his fate and second guesses every move he makes. For example, after it is clear the Trojans are defeated and he is given signs by the gods to flee, he still mourns the burning city behind him instead of looking toward a hope-filled future. “Where [will] destiny take us?” wonders Aeneas, “ And [ he launches] out in tears and [deserts his] native land, the old safe haven, the plains where Troy once stood.” Even though Aeneas has saved his son, father, and many friends from destruction and has a new purpose shown to him by the gods, he is still heavily bowed down by grief and indecision.

Aeneas can be portrayed as a “hesitant hero” many times throughout the books. However, it was more evident in the first half than the second half. In the first half of the epic he showed more hesitance in his actions when faced with hard decisions, and part of that hesitance followed him into the second half. This hesitance can be both a strength and a weakness for him in terms of his people's perception of him, and how the gods view him as both a man and a hero.

alone does not make Aeneas a hero. A divine mother's concern makes him a hero.

This week’s question pertains to an epic mythological poem that is named The Aeneid. This is a story about a man named Aeneas (who was a Trojan); he decides to exit his destroyed city of Troy when he is ordered by one of his gods (Mercury) to follow a heroic determined path in life, and discovers the fact that he is destined to settle a new and most influential city in a foreign land. The irony that comes to be, is that this future colony will one day become to be known as, the all-powerful city of Rome in which is the Roman Empire.

The Aeneid is an epic play written by Virgil, and the play deals with the life of Romans after the fall of Troy and the aftermath of the destruction that had occurred. Aeneas the protagonist of the play is escaping the burning city of Troy with his son Ascanius and his father Anchises on his sides. After a trip to the underworld Aeneas realizes his duty/destiny of becoming a Roman leader and establishing the Roman Empire in Italy. However once Aeneas and his men finally make it to Italy there is constant fighting between the future Romans (Trojans) and the Italians. The fighting and war cannot be stopped so to settle the dispute and prevent more innocent lives from being killed Aeneas and Turnus (the strong/leading Italian

During The Aeneid and the Bhagavad-Gita, duty was the main priority when it came to Arjuna and Aeneas. In the Bhagavad-Gita, Arjuna was a warrior. He refuses to carry out his duties. Arjuna has the duty of fighting / killing his relatives of the Kaurara family in a major battle. Arjuna is the best among others, especially all men. He must overcome frustration, terror, and selfishness, but his unwillingness to his duty leaves him being advised to get up and fight. However during the Aeneid, Aeneas is the perfect warrior and leader. His people never second guess his judgment. Aeneas has the duty to be the founder of Rome.

The Virgilian hero Aeneas is set a step above the rest and as such is beyond the scope of reach we as the audience have of him, but it is within the stories that unfold alongside his and all the trials and tribulations which others must endure that we are able to fully comprehend what afflictions he braves despite the pain it causes not only him and the people around him, but us as the reader. Virgil wanted us as the reader to take this journey with Aeneas and bear witness to all that he boldly confronts so that the impact becomes that much more palpable. The story was, after all, an ode, if you will, to the greatness of Rome and her glorious savior

Again, it revolves around a hero, this time his challenges being that of war time affairs. Aeneas is described as traveling through conquests and establishing the empire, the cultural themes involved being patriotism towards Rome and stepping up to one’s duty placed upon you, whether it be the moral obligation of a normal citizen or that of a warrior. The reason this portrays cultural value is because of what circumstances it was written under. Rome was in the midst of rebuilding itself back up while also expanding. The concept of combat was very much a common thought or worry amongst the people in Rome. The fears of war were not expressed as much as the honor it is to serve one’s nation in any way one could. This text shows the advancement of attitudes in a culture. The beginning of culture delved into more existential values, life and death, while the Aeneid focused primarily on the physical matters of Rome, battle and loyalty. The priorities of the people were directed heavily towards these ideals, since the concepts of mortality were already answered by the sophisticated development of a religious system of gods and

Despite his accomplishments and the glory associated with his life, Aeneas only achieves the status of hero through divine intervention, and this god-given position causes him just as much grief as it does splendor.

Being a hero doesn’t mean you’re invincible. It just means that you’re brave enough to stand up and do what’s needed. Homer’s Iliad and Virgil’s Aeneid have similar themes even though they were created between a wide margins of time between each other. Between both of the texts, there is moral lesson of showing what makes a true hero. The main characters are chosen by the Gods not only because they are children of the gods and goodness, but because they have a destiny to fulfill to prove themselves as a true hero. The characters have the lives of mortals within their bare hands but they are selfish with who they wish to help. Honestly, their choices are not made fairly to those that deserve it. The Gods played favoritism with certain human affairs. They were powerful but like any hero they have a limit to the power invested in them. Even though they are a God every single one of them are subject to fate. Throughout the characters of Medea, Achilles and Aeneas one can compare and contrast the different characteristics of being a true hero.