While reading The Aeneid I noticed a number of similarities and parallels that Virgil made to Odysseus in The Odyssey. From the very beginning Virgil creates the theme of how heroic Aeneas is, just as Odysseus was described from the beginning of The Odyssey. Not to mention the similar details between the adventures of both Aeneas and Odysseus.
It didn't take long though to realize that there are a significant amount of differences as well. Odysseus is known for his want to explore and to satisfy his interest in the unknown. He purposely involves himself in conflict for the sole purpose of being curious. He could have avoided conflict with Polyphemus if he wouldn't have been so hungry for adventure.
On the other hand Aeneas' intentions are purely on what is best for his people and family. He sacrifices the peaceful, happy life he knows he could have for his public duty to his people. While Odysseus' priority did not seem to be his men, shows as he came back without them, Aeneas fights for others, and to create a future for them. He is driven for others benefits, not his own personal desires.
As we discussed in class, the Romans are basically known for stealing everything from the Greeks. I would guess that this is probably why there are so many similarities between the two protagonists! When it comes to the differences, especially regarding Aeneas’s better intentions/care for others, I imagine Virgil wanted to create a story of a hero who had all the best things that Greek heroes had and then some!- as well as giving him less of their obvious flaws. The Romans probably thought they made everything better that they took rather than just blatant less than amazing imitations. Either way, I not only see similarities between Aeneas and Odysseus, but also Hektor comes to mind even more so. They are both two men that show love for their families and take part in intimate scenes with them which make the reader sympathize with them, however they also both fail their families in that in the end, their duty to the battle is their top priority.
ReplyDeleteNailed it...
DeleteWhile thinking about your post, I remembered what we get to see of Odysseus and Aeneas's relationships with their mothers. We meet Odysseus's mother upon him and his men making the trip to Hades to be told Tiresias's prophecy (244). Odysseus spots her spirit, not having yet known that she had even died. Odysseus attempts to embrace her, but “three times she escape[s] [his] hands, much like a shadow or a dream” (251). He is deeply troubled by the passing of his mother and from his literal and figurative inability to reach her now that she has been removed to the realm of spirits. We can see here that Odysseus has great love for his mother; him grasping for her is an almost childlike act, as a child reaches for its mother when it is scared. In much the same way, though a respected warrior, Odysseus has been on harrowing adventures in desperate search for home and therefore longs for his mother's touch, yet is denied that comfort. As for Aeneas, his crew has also been through many trials on the sea, until they arrive to Dido's lands. There, Aeneas's mother, Venus, disguises herself as a young maid as she informs Aeneas of the island and reassures him that their fortune has changed for the better. It is not until she is leaving him that "a glow of light [shines] out behind her head" as she "walk[s] in majesty divine" (567). Aeneas is hurt by her secrecy, proclaiming, "What? Your son? Again so heartless to mock him -- you, too-- with empty shows? Why was your hand not laid in mine? Why could we not speak true?" (567). This scene gives me the impression that, like Odysseus, Aeneas has a soft spot for and special attachment to his mother. Also like Odysseus, he craves the comfort of her attention but is denied that, though this time because of her own deliberate will. (Why she chose to disguise herself rather than talking to him forthrightly, as he asked, still evades me.)
ReplyDeleteI don't know that I would say that Odysseus doesn't care for or provide for his men. He does go back to save them whenever Circe turns them to hogs, even though his fellow warrior Eurylochus is too frightened and declines to join him (238). This is a dangerous undertaking, for Odysseus to resolve to go up against a powerful goddess with no backup in order to rescue his men. I think when he fails to protect his men, it is from carelessness rather than a lack of desire to protect them.
I think that scene you describe between Aeneas and his mother is one of the most poignant scenes in the Aeneid...
DeleteI also made this conclusion about these two characters. Odysseus seemed to do things the hard way just for the sake of adventure. Aeneas seemed to be more goal oriented. This may be due to the fact that he didn't stay on an island for 10 years with a mistress... but that's just me.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that Aeneas is a less distracted individual than Odysseus. Odysseus, Achilles, and Hektor are all pretty strong and do what they set their mind to. They lead, and it is rare that they are told to change their behavior (and they listen to the advice). Achilles and Agamemnon are both clearly like this in the first section of the Iliad. Agamemnon sets his mind against giving back his prize girl and can't handle it without demanding Briseis in return. Achilles switches sides and goes against his own men because of this quarrel (among other stubborn actions later). Odysseus is hungry for adventure, even at the expense of his men, specifically in his refusal to stop goading the Cyclops on. Hektor, although less self-centered, is very set on fighting no matter what, despite pleas from his father, mother, and wife. All of these characters are decided in their actions. They want to do something, or they think something is right, so they do it.
ReplyDeleteAeneas seems to be (slightly) less decided as a character. But this does appear to be a good thing. In the second book, Aeneas realizes that Helen has also survived, in spite of the fact that Troy has fallen, and he desires revenge at first. But when Venus appears, telling her son to give "No blame to Helen of Sparta's hated face; no, nor to Paris," he listens to her (587). Aeneus does not give in to his pretty reasonable feelings of anger and revenge, which is unlike some of the other heroes. Additionally, Aeneus sees Hektor in a dream, who commands him to "run from these flames" as Troy is collapsing. Hektor also tells him to take the "holy things" and "find walls for them" and "build them great" (581). Aeneus fights, but he is also willing to go and begin a new Troy. He's not afraid and running from the battle, but neither is he going to remain there. Instead, he leads his family out and is ready to go start something new. In this way, perhaps Aeneas is more balanced of a character than the heroes in Homer. He almost has to be to start over after the destruction of Troy. Maybe because he is a combination of Hektor and Odysseus he gets the best of both sides. It would be pretty fan-fiction-like to take the parts of two characters you like the most and put them into one.
That's a really insightful point you make about Aeneas mastering his anger toward Helen, Alice...
DeleteYou zero right in on the burden that so often makes Aeneas's life miserable, Julianne: the demands of "pietas", his duty to create a future for those who will come after. For Aeneas, it's never about the simple pleasures of life--feasting, friends, lovers, a nice sunny day; it's always about his destiny...
ReplyDeleteI agree that Aeneas is a person who is more focused, and has more of a tunnel vision. He is also just flat out a better person I feel than Odysseus is. I do feel that both are great warriors in their own ways. Aeneas being more of a good leader, but Odysseus can be very sly, and sneak things by his enemies without them knowing. I feel like you made a very good point on both of them, and I believe they are pretty much dead even.
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