Themes in the Aeneid: Exploring the Ideas in the Latin Epic Poem
The Aeneid’s themes are plenty; each gives an idea of what shaped the lives of the ancient Romans. A theme such as fate tells of how the ancient Romans struggled with the concept, while the idea of divine intervention reveals their religiosity.
This article will explore most of the major themes discussed in Virgil’s Aeneid and give examples where applicable.
What Are Themes in the Aeneid?
Themes in the Aeneid are Virgil’s way of conveying concepts to his readers through his epic poem. Aeneid covers different themes in ancient Rome, and the vital critical themes are the theme of fate, patriotism, and the theme of divine intervention, honor, war, and peace.
Theme of Fate
Fate in the Aeneid is a significant theme that serves as a foundation for the whole epic poem. It describes how man will fulfill his destiny despite the challenges and detours he may face along life’s journey. The epic poem is replete with various examples of people fulfilling their destinies regardless of the setbacks, but none rivals the example of Aeneas. Furthermore, the poem is based on Aeneas, his adventures, and his destiny.
The epic hero, Aeneas, was spurred on by the resolve to leave a lasting legacy for his sons and generations yet to come. The goddess Juno, the wife, and sister of Jupiter, hated Aeneas because of the prophecy that he would find Rome, and she presented several obstacles to obstruct him. However, as fate would have it, Aeneas surmounted all the challenges and lived to fulfill his destiny. On a few occasions, Jupiter intervened and brought Aeneas back on track when it seemed that Juno was succeeding in obstructing his progress.
This is because Jupiter had already decreed that Aeneas would be the founder of Rome – and it came to pass. The gods had no power against fate, rather all their efforts to alter it only facilitated it. Jupiter, the king of the gods, was responsible for ensuring that whatever was fated came to pass and since his decrees were final, he lived out his responsibility to the letter. The idea Virgil wanted to communicate to his audience was that whatever was fated to happen will come to regardless of the opposition.
The Theme of Patriotism
Another theme explored in Virgil’s masterpiece is the undying love for one’s country. Virgil’s idea for the Aeneid was to instill in his Roman readers the idea to work for the betterment of Rome. He illustrates this through the life of Aeneas as he sacrifices and works harder to establish and better Rome. His devotion towards his father by carrying him on his back while they fled the burning Troy was an example worthy of emulation for every Roman citizen.
Aeneas even journeyed to the Underworld against all odds just to see his father as his father had wished. His devotion to his father exemplifies the attitude every Roman should have towards their country. His willingness to die for his father is what the Roman citizens inculcated inculcate as they sought to promote the interests of Rome abroad. Ideals like these served as a foundation for building the great Roman empire that conquered almost half the known world.
The poet also mentioned the name of Caesar Augustus, the ruler of the Roman empire when the poem was written, to inspire patriotism among the populace. The citizens took pride in the achievements of one of the most extraordinary emperors, and everyone wanted to associate with him. The mention of Augustus Caesar is an example of symbolism in the Aeneid because he represents the loyalty and patriotism the ancient rulers of Rome demanded.
The Theme of Divine Intervention
A recurring theme throughout the epic poem is the subject of divine interference. Just like Homer’s Iliad, the gods in the Aeneid were constantly interfering in human affairs. First, there’s Juno whose hatred for Troy led her to instigate several ploys to destroy the city. She did her best to prevent Aeneas from fulfilling his destiny, though all her efforts were thwarted.
Juno’s ploys and schemes forced Jupiter to intervene and set right all the wrongs that his wife had meted against Aeneas. Many of the deities also tried to alter fate, knowing too well that their efforts would be futile. For instance, Juno inspired the love affair between Aeneas and Dido to delay/prevent his travel to Italy. Fortunately for Aeneas, his voyage to Italy ultimately came to pass and the intervention of the deities proved futile.
Venus, the Roman goddess of love, also came to the aid of her son, Cupid, whenever Juno tried to harm him. The constant battle between Juno and Venus over Aeneas forced Jupiter to assemble the gods for a meeting. During that meeting, the gods discussed the fates of Aeneas, King Latinus, and Turnus, the leader of the Rutulians. Nonetheless, the gods interfered, they had no power to change the final outcome as all that they did came to nothing in the long run.
Honor in the Aeneid
Just like the Greeks, the Romans were very particular about honoring the living and their ancestors. Aeneas’ reverence for his father characterizes this even to the point of joining him in the Underworld at his father’s request. Aeneas also honors his son Ascanius by building for him a lasting legacy that would be passed on to generations after him. Thus, the idea was to teach the citizens to honor both the living and the dead and not to respect one to the detriment of the other.
The Romans also had a deep reverence for the gods and made sure that they fulfilled all the rituals and festivals associated with them. Every citizen was required to do the gods bidding even if it inconvenienced them. For instance, when Jupiter realized that Aeneas was delaying his travel to Rome by spending time with Dido, he sent Mercury to remind him of his destiny. After Aeneas has received the message from Mercury, he deserts Dido and continues his journey.
Finally, the Romans were expected to honor their country and that was the message Virgil communicated in the epic poem. Through Aeneas, we learn that one has to sacrifice their goals, time, pleasure, and their lives, when it is required, for the good of the country. Aeneas’ entire life illustrates just that as he battles through obstacles and sacrifices his relationship with his wife to found Rome. Thus, the Aeneid teaches honor to the gods, the living, the dead, and the country.
The Theme of War and Peace
The Aeneid is full of war stories as the epic hero fights many battles to establish the city of Rome. War is a necessary evil to establish great empires, and the Romans never shied away from it. The story of the Aeneid began when war forced Aeneas to flee from Troy, carrying his father on his back. The end of the poem also records the war on the fields of Italy.
The Aeneid characters were constantly faced with the possibility of war, so they had to either form alliances to prevent it or fight it bravely. Interestingly, these wars were fought due to either insults and grudges and rarely to gain land or territory. The war in Troy was instigated by three goddesses, hence they couldn’t settle on who was the most beautiful. The battle in Italy started because Turnus found out that his lover, Lavina, was getting married to Aeneas.
Through the Aeneid, Virgil highlights the frivolous reasons for war and the carnage it leaves in its wake. Though the victor would be honored and glorified, the death and separation it causes are devastating. However, Anchises’ comment in the Underworld suggests that Rome’s victory would ensure a lasting peace. True to his remarks, the Aeneas and his people finally had peace after they had defeated the Turnus and the Rutulians, bringing about the Aeneid resolution.
Conclusion
The Aeneid is underpinned by several themes which convey specific ideas or messages to its audience. This article has discussed some of the significant pieces, and here is a recap:
- One of the major themes in the epic poem is the fate which suggests that whatever has been willed would come to pass regardless of the obstacles.
- Another theme is a divine intervention that highlights the interference of the gods in the affairs of men but how they are powerless in altering fate.
- The theme of honor explores the Roman citizen’s obligation to revere the living, the dead, and the gods, as demonstrated by Aeneas throughout the poem.
- The theme of war and peace highlights the frivolous reasons that start the war and the peace that ensues after all hostilities are settled.
- The Aeneid also conveys a message of patriotism and encourages its audience to love one’s country and to sacrifice for its betterment.
The themes of the Aeneid give insight into the culture and beliefs of the Romans and help modern readers to appreciate Roman folklore. They also inculcate ideals that are relevant to today’s society.
