Aeneid Group

Question:

lilyk88
lilyk88
Student
College - Sophomore

Why does Aeneas exit the underworld through the fate of false dreams?

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Posted by lilyk88 on Wednesday March 26, 2008 at 7:48 PM and tagged with aeneas, aeneid, underworld.

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  1. hosni Student
    College - Senior

    "sunt lacrimae rerum" Virgil

    Which means in English, there are tears over things. Virgil is known to be very sombre and even melancholic. Though he knows that he is writing the national poem of Rome ordered by no less than Octavian Ceaser, he does not only praise Rome's glory but continually reminds his reader of the pain and agony that led to its foundation. The last stage of Aeneas's visit to the underworld was somehow "merry" He saw the glorious people of Rome arrayed in light and waiting for a bright and marvellous future. A people elected by the gods. You must imagine yourself a Roman reading this. You would feel "special" but Virgil cools you down by "the false dreams" for you must not forget the horrors that preceeded Rome and the more terrible bloodshed that Rome provoked. Remember that the civil war between Julius Ceaser and Pompei Magnus is not far behind and the conflict between Octavian and Antony is still fresh. Virgil cannot praise Rome and ignore all the pain and sorrow attached to its name. This is the disillusionment to which he tries to subject his reader.   

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    Posted by hosni on Tuesday August 26, 2008 at 12:44 PM