The fight for women’s rights has been an ongoing struggle, with the majority of the progress being made only within the last few decades. Sexism has been so deeply engrained into society, that it is difficult to get rid of the notion that women are inferior to men. The divide between men and women can even be seen in literature that dates back to thousands of years. Written around 750 B.C., Homer’s Iliad is a prime example of a work that portrays mortal women as possession and many female gods as deceptive, emotional characters. Another work, the Aeneid by Virgil examines the idea that goddesses can be selfish, only doing things when they can benefit from it. It also shows how mortal women can cause the downfall of men by leading them astray
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She is the queen of Carthage and has the respect of all her people, including the men. The city of Carthage prospers under her leadership but that changes when she is made to fall in love with Aeneas. She neglects her duties and Carthage’s growth comes to a halt as seen when “towers, half-built, rose/no farther; men no longer trained in arms/or toiled to make harbors and battlements impregnable. Projects were broken off" (Virgil, IV. 115-120). Despite her strong beginning, Dido is still portrayed as inferior to men. While both Aeneas and Dido were affected by love, Aeneas was reminded of his duty in which he carried out. He ignores Dido’s feelings towards him as he says “So please, no more of these appeals that set us both afire. I sail for Italy not of my own will” (Virgil, IV. 489-491). Essentially he chooses his fate over Dido despite the fact that she cannot just go back to being the Queen of Carthage after neglecting her people. Having her people mad at her and Aeneas’ betrayal proves to be too much for Dido as she makes the decision to end her life, leaving Carthage without a leader. Unlike Aeneas who was hailed as a great leader, she did not put her people first. Although it was Venus’ doing, Dido let her emotions control her and this ultimately lead to her
She is the queen of Carthage and has the respect of all her people, including the men. The city of Carthage prospers under her leadership but that changes when she is made to fall in love with Aeneas. She neglects her duties and Carthage’s growth comes to a halt as seen when “towers, half-built, rose/no farther; men no longer trained in arms/or toiled to make harbors and battlements impregnable. Projects were broken off" (Virgil, IV. 115-120). Despite her strong beginning, Dido is still portrayed as inferior to men. While both Aeneas and Dido were affected by love, Aeneas was reminded of his duty in which he carried out. He ignores Dido’s feelings towards him as he says “So please, no more of these appeals that set us both afire. I sail for Italy not of my own will” (Virgil, IV. 489-491). Essentially he chooses his fate over Dido despite the fact that she cannot just go back to being the Queen of Carthage after neglecting her people. Having her people mad at her and Aeneas’ betrayal proves to be too much for Dido as she makes the decision to end her life, leaving Carthage without a leader. Unlike Aeneas who was hailed as a great leader, she did not put her people first. Although it was Venus’ doing, Dido let her emotions control her and this ultimately lead to her