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Irrational Decisions In The Book 'In The Aeneid' By Virgil

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Perishing in the name of love, one women is driven to the point of no return. In the Aeneid Book IV, Virgil writes about Dido, the Queen of Carthage, and the circumstances that came with her newly found relationship with Aeneas, son of Prince Anchises and the goddess Aphrodite, In the Aeneid Book IV, Virgil proves humans make irrational decisions when confronted with strong emotions such as love.

The first irrational decision Queen Dido made was making a vow to a dead man. Initially Queen Dido is married to Sychaeus, but he is killed by Pygmalion, Dido’s brother. Following the passing of her husband, Queen Dido vows to never love again. “Had I not set my face against remarriage/ After my first love died and failed me,” (Virgil 20-21) Queen …show more content…
Queen Dido’s failed relationship aided to the shattering of her heart. Therefore the human quality of irrational thinking becomes prominent. After meeting Aeneas, Queen Dido is quick to enter a relationship with him. Queen Dido doesn’t just enter any relationship with Aeneas, but the marital status. “She thought no longer of a secret love/ but called it marriage/ Thus under that name/ She hid her faults” (Virgil 225-227) Only after does een Dido realize her fault in thinking to quickly. The citizens of Carthage also noticed her irrational thinking when she came back from her rushed marriage. “Then how they revealed all winter long/ Unmindful of the realm, Prisoners of lust./ These tales of the scandalous Queen/ Put about On lips of men everywhere.” (Virgil 251-254 ) In the eyes of everyone Queen Dido’s actions were …show more content…
Aeneas had a mission to found Rome, he set on that mission prior to meeting Queen Dido. When the Gods remind him to leave he has no choice but to leave. Queen Dido’s plan of marriage did not have this accounted in, so she goes on a rampage when Aeneas is set to leave. “ Put an end to my distress/ Committing to the flames/ The pyre of that miserable Dardan.”.(Virgil 856-858) Beginning to burn his belongings Queen Dido stabs herself with a knife given to her by Aeneas. “Saw her/ Crumpled over the steel blade/Aflush with red blood, drenched her hands. (Virgil 888-889) Queen Dido died before her fate which was frowned upon. She had no time to think about the

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