Irony In Dido's 'Aeneas'

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Dido is portrayed as a character driven by emotion, and that her actions are out of her control. For example her actions when she discovers that Aeneas is to leave Carthage as Bacchic. This is emphasised even more by the fact that Dido is made to love Aeneas by Venus. It as if Dido has no agency in her life. Dido is a character which the gods use for the own ends with little care about her wellbeing. There is shown when Dido is sceptical that the gods would send messages to Aeneas. As for her to know the gods wishes she has to pray at temples and give sacrifices, but for Aeneas the gods come personally to him. We are able to sympathise with Dido because of the dramatic irony caused by the fact that all the readers know that Aeneas doesn’t stay in Carthage, and so as Dido becomes more and more attached to Aeneas, we feel sorry for her. Her last ditch attempt to send Anna to negotiate is another futile gesture. …show more content…

Her grievance was with Aeneas, but she decided that the whole of Rome should be punished for his transgressions, and because of her, her people also suffered as they were wiped out when they went to war with Rome. There is much symmetry between Cleopatra and Dido, both are Africans, both fall in love with a roman, and both lead their men astray. However Anthony remains with her queen, whereas Aeneas leaves

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