Student Question
Who inhabits the Fields of Mourning in Virgil's "Aeneid"?
Quick answer:
The Fields of Mourning in Virgil's Aeneid are inhabited by individuals who died due to love. Notable residents include Dido, who killed herself after Aeneas left her, and others like Procris, Eriphyle, Pasiphae, Phaedra, Laodamia, Evadne, and Caeneus. These characters suffer eternally from unrequited or tragic love, with their stories involving themes of betrayal, incest, and transformation.
Those individuals who have died because of love inhabit the Fields of Mourning.
Dido, who fell in love with Aeneas and killed herself when he left her to countinue on his journey lives there, as do Procris, Eriphyle, Pasiphae, Paedra, Laodamia, Evadne, and Caeneus. Each of these characters suffer eternally from love unrequited or otherwise gone wrong. Eriphyle's torment is caused by her son, while Pasiphae and Phaedra were an incestuous couple. Caeneus was a woman first, and then a man, and then a woman again when she died.
Get Ahead with eNotes
Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.
Already a member? Log in here.
References