Fate is a crucial concept in the Aeneid. Look for a few places in the Aeneid where fate is mentioned and discuss each occurance, explaining what you think Virgil meant by "Fate" in the context of the story. Do you think his concept of fate is like yours or different? How?
In Virgil’s Aeneid, fate seems to be the predominant motif. Not only does it mark the human existence as temporary and determine the afterlife of a human, but also traces their destiny in the great scheme of things. What is written for Aeneas and his people by the gods cannot be changed or fought against; the gods’ will shall prevail regardless of the individual’s free will and search of their own path in life. This is also one of the reasons why Virgil was so popular among medieval Christians and his works embraced and valued as scholastic study material. Although a pagan, his ideas and concepts stand very close to those of the Christians of the time, especially the Catholic Church. They believed that one’s life course and purpose is in the hands of God and one must not oppose the divine order set for them, but piously obey and fulfill their destiny.
The very first line opening the epic alludes to fate getting its way by leading Aeneas to fulfilling his destiny, “Arms, and the man I sing, who, forc'd by fate,/ And haughty Juno's unrelenting hate,/ Expell'd and exil'd, left the Trojan shore,” setting the tone for what is to follow. Even great Juno, filled with hatred toward Troy and its people, is afraid that she will not be able to save her beloved Carthage and prevent Aeneas from founding Rome as fighting fate would be futile, “Yet she had heard an ancient rumor fly,/(…)/ That times to come should see the Trojan race/ Her Carthage ruin, and her tow'rs deface;/ (…)/ She ponder'd this, and fear'd it was in fate.” Powerless, she would have to give up opposing what is meant to be and let history be made, “So Fate will have it, and Jove adds his force;/ Nor can my pow'r divert their happy course.” Venus, Aeneas’ mother and goddess of Love, also fear powerless at the prospect of her son not being able to fulfill his destiny and addresses almighty Jove, desperate, uncertain of what is to come, “fates to fates I could oppose; but now,/ When Fortune still pursues her former blow,/ What can I hope? What worse can still succeed?/ What end of labors has your will decreed.” However, looking to soothe upset Venus, Jove replies in a loving, fatherly manner, that her son will accomplish what he himself has written for Aeneas, “’Daughter, dismiss thy fears; to thy desire/ The fates of thine are fix'd, and stand entire./ Thou shalt behold thy wish'd Lavinian walls;/ And, ripe for heav'n, when fate Aeneas calls,/ Then shalt thou bear him up, sublime, to me:/ No councils have revers'd my firm decree./ And, lest new fears disturb thy happy state,/ Know, I have search'd the mystic rolls of Fate:/ Thy son (nor is th' appointed season far)/ In Italy shall wage successful war’.”
In Hades, similarly to those in The Odyssey, the shades desperately yearn for life. For those who did not appreciate the gift of life, it is impossible to gain it back as it is not in their destiny to be freed to the living world, “With late repentance now they would retrieve/ The bodies they forsook, and wish to live;/ (…)/ To view the light of heav'n, and breathe the vital air:/ But fate forbids.” However, in contrast to Homer’s Hades, the worthy souls are sent to the Elysian Fields which they enjoy for a thousand years before they can go back to earth as reincarnated souls.
Also, if Odysseus goes to Hades to find out news from his homeland and advice for his journey, Aeneas learns about the glorious future of the new race he is about to start. Anchises, Aeneas’ father, shows him “The long procession of his progeny,” assuring him that “These are th' Italian names, which fate will join/ With ours, and graff upon the Trojan line.” This is Aeneas’ destiny, and his father is prophesying it. What is more, while Homer’s Odysseus is concerned about himself and his immediate family and the perils he might encounter on his journey home, Virgil’s Aeneas is concerned about all of his people, which makes him a great leader of his time, fitted for founding the Roman people. His piety and selflessness however lead to his personal unhappiness as he suffers through the deaths of his wife, his father, many of his friends, and the fall of Troy, all dictated by Fate.
Virgil’s ideas and concepts of fate and personal conduct have been tremendously appreciated in his time and the period following, especially during the Christian Middle Ages, and their value still carries on to our days. Concern for the greater good and selflessness are greatly praised nowadays as well. However, on a personal level, I believe that we need to combine our belief in fate with free will. From personal experience, I can attest that had I not been proactive in certain situations or had I not fought against what at the time seemed to be my fate, I would certainly not be where I am right now. Some people have told me I should just let go and embrace what was meant to be for me, but my determination to build my own road in life, to design my own destiny, have kept me active and fighting for my dreams and the dreams of those around me. Sometimes, starting change on an individual level can have a great impact on those around, leading to possibly changing their lives for the better also.
No comments:
Post a Comment