Virgil's Use Of Pietas In The Aeneid

One of the biggest theme distinguishing the Aeneid from the other classic works such as the Odysseus is its focus on pietas: it narrates a story of how the main character, Aeneas, restrains his emotion, faithfully obeys the calling of destiny, and finally lays the foundation of roman empire’s later greatness. However, although Virgil values pietas a great deal, he also writes a memorial for Nisus and Euryalus, a couple who don’t follow their pietas but submit to their furors which later cause the message to Aeneas undelivered. By comparing the couple to other figures such as Dido and Aeneas who submit or have a tendency to submit to furors, it can been seen that although Virgil depicts the downfalls of submission to furor and the virtuousness of

She is described as a victim of the destiny instead a hateful hinderance of it. Furthermore, when Aeneas tries to placate her, he also says: “I sail for Italy not of my own free will.” (The Aeneid 4, 499) Virgil describes not only Aeneas’s pietas, but also his dilemma: the destiny makes him do things even if he doesn’t want to. Therefore, although pietas is greatly valued in the Aeneid, Virgil also shows his sympathy and appreciation toward the struggle behind the characters’ pietas. Although Virgil values Pietas, he also shows his understanding attitude toward characters' emotions behind their struggle in being pietas. Therefore, it is not surprising that Virgil still praises Nisus and Euryalus even if they fail to be pietas due to their emotions. When they accept the mission of delivering message, they are thinking about honors and joining Aeneas’s great cause:

“this urge to action, do the gods instil it, or is each man’s desire a god to him,

Euryalus? For all these hours I’ve longed to engage in battle, or to try some