The Importance Of Action In Virgil's Aeneid

In Virgil's epic, Aeneid, emotion and action are apparent themes which cannot be neglected. Even though there is a distinct disassociation between them, together are important key components that can analyze the characters who we come across. Throughout the book, we reach a point that emotion takes on an unoccupied role and is a key in guiding the characters to make irrational decisions. In contrast, action has a stronger sense because it is prescribed by duty. This description reflects on the personality of Aeneas, who lay away his desires and emotions to take responsibility of his people and build a new city for himself and his people as he is a dutiful leader. However, if emotion cannot be controlled, it can deny the true meaning of action …show more content…
He, in order to complete the fate of Aeneas, must be ended. Turnus as Dido make unreasonable judgement. Dido, her flammable love for Aeneas made her lose. But this time Turnus is the proud man as well as having rage in his heart. Turnus is the warrior and leader of a tribe in Italy, Rutuli. He refused to let the Trojan settle in Latin as he is also the leader of Latin's army and he is the main enemy of Aeneas. If we compare Turnus to Dido, this time Furor stands opposite to Dido's amatory. Besides, he is the one who goes after his volition and relate everything to his own advantages instead of understanding or looking for the true purpose. He also has passion for war. However, this is completely different from Aeneas who look for the real meaning of omen. In Allecto's war, which is war that arose because of raising opposition to the marriage of Aeneas and Lavinia, the daughter of king Latinus, the character of Turnus who is completely driven by his anger of losing Lavinia, is revealed for us clearly.. For example, Turnus get the chance to enter the Trojan's camp, he starts killing his enemies as having desires for bloodshed instead of bringing his troops to the camp to win victory. Another example that reveals the character of Turnus is that when he kills Pallas, he stands with his feet on the dead body and also remove Pallas's sword belt. This is a dishonorable behaviour toward the dead body. His furor and pride completely made him to not be a heroic person, despite heroism, his uncontrollable emotion made him to be inferior comparing to Aeneas and also destoy himself and he is ended because of his irrational action