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Post by Dominique Martin on Sept 21, 2016 22:46:21 GMT
When reading the second half of the book i am finding that the gods seem less controlling. The gods are just kind of instigating things(especially Juno). It's like the humans have free will and are making their own decisions, but the gods are influencing them. Example: Juno telling Turnus about Aeneas' absence, and suggesting that Turnus attack the Trojans. It is also interesting that a lot of the mortals have a god helping them. Venus helping Aeneas, Juno with Turnus, and Diana avenging Camilla.
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Post by Christopher Martin on Sept 23, 2016 13:02:49 GMT
Definitely a worthwhile point. While perhaps I should wait for Kateri to respond as well, I DO want to make sure that we target this point carefully: WHY might the gods have a more detached approach, and what relevance/significance might this have to Virgil's context?
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artsykat
Junior Member
Hello, I'm Kateri, nice to meet you~!
Posts: 51 
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Post by artsykat on Sept 24, 2016 2:07:34 GMT
I think it may have to do with the fact that Virgil wanted to make Caesar and Rome look good? By showing less of the gods intervention we see more of what Aeneas is capable of by himself. Seeing a more independent hero means he's able to hold his own. And although the gods do intervene quite a bit, they aren't controlling his every move. Aeneas decedents did become, according to Virgil, the founders of Rome. By showing a good ancestor of Rome, you make Rome look good.
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Post by Christopher Martin on Sept 25, 2016 17:01:03 GMT
Excellent. Don't miss that Jupiter/Zeus was the specific entity who spoke about how men would make their own fortune . . . no longer the interposition of his power into the course of human events. Thus, Aeneas is both beloved of gods, but even further, earned the right to lay Rome's foundation by the work of his own two hands, and not because Jupiter decreed it. This folds into your two points above nicely, Dominique and Kateri: The gods may interfere, but in the last half of the text, they have more of a side role in the assistance with the characters, but don't actually have any influence over whether Aeneas will fulfill his destiny.
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