Virgil Aeneid Themes

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Spies are Outdated People are manipulative liars and have been since ancient times, this is one of the most apparent themes of Virgil’s The Aeneid. In book II of the Aeneid by Virgil Aeneas tells Queen Dido about the fall of Troy. Aeneas explains that after the Trojans beat the Greeks into retreating a man named Sinon showed up with a giant wooden horse, secretly filled with a Greek army, as an “offering of peace”. Due to Sinon’s convincingly pathetic story-telling and the Trojans mental fuzziness from war and lack of sleep, they let Sinon and his horse in. Troy was then pillaged when it was vulnerable, everything the Greeks did was immoral according to Aeneas, but Aeneas escaped with the impulse to travel and start Rome. Virgil shows trusting that others will be honorable makes those who trust easily exploitable. The Trojans trust that Sinon will do the right thing. In the Aeneid, it shows the fall of Troy in the light that the Trojans were actually tricked by their trust of honour among people, the Trojans are convinced by the story of Sinon “But I beg you, by the gods, by divine power that knows the truth, by whatsoever honour anywhere remains pure among men, have pity on …show more content…

To recap the Trojans were tricked into thinking someone was innocent, then they were betrayed by him and their city fell. After this, most people realised how arrogant they were to disregard the warnings, although some people denied the fall of Troy was avoidable. There are also current examples of this type scenario happening like spies spying. This all supports the theory that undeserved trust makes you exploitable. What this tells us is not to assume people won't abuse your trust or will. Just be ready for anything, and if you have to make a guess don't mix up fact and opinion, choose what you have reason to believe. In the end, as Virgil shows us trust makes us exploitable, but only if we misuse

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