Fate In Virgil's The Aeneid

Virgil’s The Aeneid depicts the wondrous tale of the Trojan hero Aeneas on his quest to fulfill his destiny. Yet, the notion of destiny begs the proposition that the entire story was over by the beginning. Looking at fate as the general intellect would define it, it seems unmovable, unbeatable, and impersonal. However, foreshadowing Aeneas’ destiny with the general definition of fate, makes for a pretty boring story. Luckily, Virgil defined fate very differently through The Aeneid. Instead of allotting fate with a secondary role, Virgil brought fate into the limelight by putting it on par with the other greek gods in terms of might, morality, and power over humans. While some would define fate as an impersonal force, The Aenied clearly defines
Evidence of Fate’s divine status lies in her similarities to the other gods. For instance, like the other gods, she chooses sides in wars she otherwise has no business in. Aeneas called her “wicked” (2.77.100) for destroying Troy the way that she did. The Greek and Trojan conflict dates back many years prior to the events of The Aeneid, and Fate plays littered roles throughout the war; killing Achilles, Hector, and eventually, destroying the proud city of Troy. Besides the Trojan war, Fate also chooses sides in the war between the Aeneas’ soldiers and the Latin people. Previously, Fate “seemed to allow the Latian state to thrive”(12.360.177), yet that changed rapidly when Aeneas challenged Turnas to a duel. In the end, Fate came out in full force against the Latin people, forcing them to yield to the vastly outnumbered Trojans. This course of action is parallel to the gods’ medaling in human affairs. In the same way that Juno aids her Greek children on their path to “ruling the nations of the earth” (1.48.20), Fate fights on behalf of the Trojans in their path to the same goal, the only question is: who is