Scholar Summary Direct Quote Examples
Fate and destiny
Mackie Pietas is due to his duty to fate Aeneas’ general concern to facilitate fate
is the cornerstone of his pietas
Gransden Free will is still possible Some events are predetermined, but
moment & circumstances are flexible
Camps Aeneas has more control than any other Will is free and his decisions his own -
character distinguishes his situation from others
Nehrkorn Underworld episode strengthens his Learning to understand the historic impact
resolve of his task
Quesnay Dido does not have control Victm of circumstances and the gods
Williams Difference in fate between Homer and Homer = governs but is short term
Vergil Vergil = plan for hundreds of years ahead
Immortals
Sowerby Mortals are pawns and they have Aeneas is the chosen instrument of divine
complete control over the human realm will
Rutherford Gods are superior Powerless under the forces of the gods
Camps Gods are human like Depicted in a human shape with human
attributes
Quesnay Dido and the gods Unhappiness which leads to her suicide is
the result of the intervention of the gods
, Family and friendship
Williams Aeneas’ heroism is different Different to a Homeric hero because he
suffers for others… a ‘social man’
West Aeneas was pious Paradigm of Roman pietas
Relationships between men and women
Lerensis Women and men want, and are looking Women orientated towards origins and
for different things men towards ends
Perkell Father-son more important than Failed Creusa, he has much more care for
relationship with women his son and father
Quinn Relationship between men and women Aeneas’ relationship with Dido should be
seen to resemble Caesar, not Antony
Grillo Creusa’s good Creusa ideal wife
Relationships between children and parents
Sowerby Importance of father-son bond Relationship between father and son is the
closest bond in the poem
Gransden Father relationships are important Dominated by fathers and father-figures…
Aeneas is called pater as often as he is
called pius
Perkell More important than relationship with Failed Creusa, he has much more care for
women his son and father
Part played by women
Oliensis To be virtuous, women of the Aeneid Prove their virtue precisely by submitting
must be forgettable to the masculine plot of history
What femininity meant to Vergil Femininity = unruly passion
Masculinity = reasoned self mastery