Differences Between Dido And Aeneas

Dido’s complete “breakdown” when Aeneas leaves Carthage is perhaps the most memorable aspect of her character, which is fairly disturbing from a feminist perspective (and in general). Aeneas is scolded by the gods for wasting time in the city, and covertly prepares to leave; Dido somehow senses this, and begins to “[rave] and run wild,” to the point where Vergil describes her, in one translation, as “devoid of soul.” (4.300-4.301) This section of the text can be viewed as an extended comparison between Dido and Aeneas, and therefore, between women and men. Aeneas is portrayed as methodical and reasonably calm, even in his “stupified” and “terrified” state; Dido is portrayed as somewhat irrational and almost possessed. Vergil likens her to a …show more content…
She notably asks him “why do I stay, until Pygmalion, my brother, destroys the city, or Iarbas the Gaetulian takes me captive?” (4.325-4.326) Here, her mention of Iarbas basically makes it clear that she is afraid of what he may do to her, essentially; his aforementioned lament to Jupiter only states that she “scorned marriage with him.” (4.213-4.214) This dialogue carries the implication that she needs Aeneas to protect her, and Carthage, from male “threats.” Dido also states that “if I’d at least conceived a child of [Aeneas’s] before [he] fled, if a little Aeneas were playing about my halls, whose face might still recall [his], I’d not feel myself so utterly deceived and forsaken.” (4.328-4.330) Essentially, she is trying to appeal to Aeneas through the idea of having a child, implying that Aeneas would not have to stay in Carthage and parent said child with Dido. This idea does subvert the traditional family structure, although it also perpetuates the often-harmful concept that mothers should have sole responsibility over their children. The relationship between Dido and Aeneas is not objectively a “marriage” - the narrative heavily implies that they consummated said relationship in a cave, but they never exchanged vows or participated in any traditional marriage rituals. Dido is said to “no longer [think] of a secret affair: …show more content…
(4.450) She asks her sister, Anna, to build a funeral pyre, supposedly to “destroy all memories of that wicked man,” and to “free [her] from loving him.” (4.476-4.496) However, said pyre is actually a part of her plan to commit suicide - as Dido dies, Anna laments her deception, saying that Dido “should have summoned [her] to the same fate” and that her suicide had “extinguished” both of them. (4.678-4.683) Anna and Dido had an extremely close relationship - Dido went to Anna for advice many times throughout the piece - an idea which reflects both the literal and feminist definition of sisterhood, and one which makes it all the more tragic when this relationship is destroyed by Dido’s