Aneid Character Analysis of Aeneas First Three Books

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In the first three books of The Aeneid, Virgil portrays Aeneas as a brave, relentless man destined for greatness in a time of sheer dismay. He is empowered by the gods with the task of leading his Trojan refugees from their destroyed city to Italy, where he will find an empire that will out last the ages. Divine intervention aids Aeneas throughout his journeys and Virgil emphasizes his qualities in leadership, strength, courage, perseverance, and kindness. Facing many obstacles such as the storm that washed his fleet upon the shores of Carthage, or landing on the isle of the Cyclops, Aeneas is driven forward by the will of the Gods, forced from one place to the next in order to fulfill his unacknowledged destiny.

Throughout the first three books of The Aeneid, Virgil stresses how the gods intervene in Aeneas' path several times, aiding him and plotting against him. The son of venus, Aeneas has more attention from the Gods than most mortals on earth. As the Trojans " were all under sail in open water/ With Sicily just out of sight astern, lighthearted as they plowed the whitecapped sea," (I, 50-3) the intervention of juno and aeolus caused the remaining Trojans to disperse, being thrown off course by a terrible storm. Without the aid, intended or not, of neptune, Aeneas' men would not have survived the treacherous storm. Venus, concerned for her beloved mortal son after so many blows, bearing the same misfortune time and again, pleads with jupiter for the safety of her son. Reassuring her Aeneas' destiny will prevail, jupiter announces that "as promised, you shall see Lavinium's walls And take up, then, amid the stars of heaven, Great-souled Aeneas" (I, 349-351).

On several occasions in the first three books venus interve...

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...ng course for Italy. As they press forward on their journey the winds of aeolus by juno's hand toss the Trojan fleet around the waters landing them in Carthage. During the storm Aeneas once again felt tragedy bestowed upon him when he lost his father, but presses on.

The introductory qualities Aeneas possesses in the first three books are recognized as honor, bravery, kindness, vulnerability to his emotions, and how with the aid of divine intervention his unforeseen destiny must be completed. With all the sorrow of losing his wife, father, and home Aeneas pressed on to fulfill the prophecies and create an empire with no end. He illustrates all of these qualities throughout his dangerous journey from Troy, leading those who seek out a brighter future. It is his destiny to found Rome and through the help of the gods and his bravery, he will make it to Hesperia.

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