There Is A Hero's Fate In The Aeneid

The Aeneid is mostly set after the fall of Troy, occasionally going back to the day her walls were corrupted in flashbacks. The main featuring character Aeneas is a Trojan prince who had managed to flee and is trying to fulfil his destiny. Making the journey from Troy to the coasts of Italy, he would found the future Rome. Aeneas is a hard working character who strives to follow his beliefs and prophesied destiny, all the while looking after the welfare of any who choose to follow his guidance. He has a very calm and reliable nature which in return allows him to assess situations he is put in and control his emotions the majority of the time. However he also showcases that heroes are not always heroic and just like everyone there are flaws in their making. These are what make him a good leader and a humanised hero.

Aeneas’ motive to endure the journey from Troy to Italy is based around him following his destiny, which is prophesied to us (the audience) in book 1 of the Aeneid by Jupiter the king of the gods. Aeneas has a very strong sense of religion and this drives him to follow his destiny through clues from the gods. However, because he is only receiving his destiny through the voices of dead
Mercury’s message from Jupiter explains to Aeneas how it is his fate and destiny to go to Italy and set the foundations for Rome, not Carthage. In this he begs him to regather his thoughts, army and set sail, and that in doing so he would seek his glory. Yet it wasn’t until Mercury’s last plea that Aeneas came to his senses.’Think of Ascanius, now growing up, and all that you hope for him as your heir, destined to rule in an Italy which shall become Italy of Rome.” (Aen. 4.) Aeneas’ feelings for Dido are without a doubt pure, however, as soon as Mercury mentions his son’s future Aeneas is ‘ardently wishing to flee from the land of his love and be gone.’ (Aen.