Throughout Book I of the Aeneid, Vergil skillfully introduces key gods through the speeches they make. By using each god’s unique grammatical and rhetorical style, Vergil introduces the temperament, sphere of influence, and the relationship they have with one another without being forced into needless exposition. Juno, Aeolus, and Neptune all have very different ways of speaking which help the reader understand more deeply the context and importance of their words.
Juno’s language in her first speech reveals the deep anger she feels both towards her fellow gods and the Trojans. Before Juno speaks, Vergil describes her as savage and unforgiving, and once Juno does speak the reasons for that nature are revealed. In a series of rhetorical questions, Juno asks why she, as “et soror et coniunx” (l. 47) to Jupiter, is unable to take revenge on the Trojans who she has fought with for years, while Minerva is not only able to use Jupiter’s lightning bolts, but also able to …show more content…
In these lines, Juno courts Aeolus into letting the winds loose and shipwrecking the Trojans, hopefully killing them. Juno begins her request by using synchysis to emphasis that Aeolus owes his powers to Jupiter (l. 65). She then goes on to demand that Aeolus destroys the Trojans with imperatives. Juno’s word choice further reveals what she wants done, she asks Aeolus to “incute,” (l. 69) meaning “strike,” “obrue,” (l. 69) meaning “overwhelm,” “age,” (l. 70) meaning “drive away,” and finally “disiice,” (l. 70) meaning “disperse.” Juno is asking Aeolus for total annihilation of the Trojans in exchange for a beautiful nymph, as she does have control over fourteen of them. By implying that Aeolus owes something to her, demanding what she what from him, and in turn promising him a wife, Juno secures what she believes will be her revenge all through skillful manipulation of
Juno’s language in her first speech reveals the deep anger she feels both towards her fellow gods and the Trojans. Before Juno speaks, Vergil describes her as savage and unforgiving, and once Juno does speak the reasons for that nature are revealed. In a series of rhetorical questions, Juno asks why she, as “et soror et coniunx” (l. 47) to Jupiter, is unable to take revenge on the Trojans who she has fought with for years, while Minerva is not only able to use Jupiter’s lightning bolts, but also able to …show more content…
In these lines, Juno courts Aeolus into letting the winds loose and shipwrecking the Trojans, hopefully killing them. Juno begins her request by using synchysis to emphasis that Aeolus owes his powers to Jupiter (l. 65). She then goes on to demand that Aeolus destroys the Trojans with imperatives. Juno’s word choice further reveals what she wants done, she asks Aeolus to “incute,” (l. 69) meaning “strike,” “obrue,” (l. 69) meaning “overwhelm,” “age,” (l. 70) meaning “drive away,” and finally “disiice,” (l. 70) meaning “disperse.” Juno is asking Aeolus for total annihilation of the Trojans in exchange for a beautiful nymph, as she does have control over fourteen of them. By implying that Aeolus owes something to her, demanding what she what from him, and in turn promising him a wife, Juno secures what she believes will be her revenge all through skillful manipulation of