A person’s life experiences heavily influence the way one views the world, and it is safe to say that two people will never perceive something in an exactly identical manner. These differences make up the world, and add to the diversity of thought that belong to a work of literature. Virgil’s The Aeneid conveys a myriad of concepts, all of which are open to the reader’s personal interpretation. For instance, Robert Fagles, who translated Virgil’s epic, viewed it as a dedication to Roman achievement and its respective cost. Although this is how The Aeneid ‘s translator describes the epic, it is only one of many possible perceptions. However, one of the most important ideas the epic presents is the relationship behind gain and loss, the concurrent
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Although The Aeneid illustrates the connection between certain opposites such as gain and loss, it emphasizes the necessary existence of one for the other. For instance, in a world where a finite amount of resources are available, in order for one to gain something, another must lose it. This is a common pattern found throughout the epic, …show more content…
In the end, though, the Roman empire almost lowered the cost for people in their empire by bringing law to a disorganized land. People and territories may have been conquered but they became part of a bigger system, one that was attempting to become the best possible version of itself. The expansion of the Roman Empire can be summarized in three words: achievement and price. This expansion depicts Fagles’ interpretation on Virgil’s The Aeneid by showcasing the epic’s “two voices, one devoted to Roman prowess, the other to its human costs.” (397). The dedication to Roman accomplishment is placed in a sort of limelight for the reader, either by placing positive connotations on their military victories or justifying their actions by emphasizing the greater good that will arise for their Roman people. There was a definite increase quality of life for the Romans as their empire continued to grow, but it ultimately came at the loss of life from the people they conquered. In a sense, the Roman Empire was like a weed, with
Although The Aeneid illustrates the connection between certain opposites such as gain and loss, it emphasizes the necessary existence of one for the other. For instance, in a world where a finite amount of resources are available, in order for one to gain something, another must lose it. This is a common pattern found throughout the epic, …show more content…
In the end, though, the Roman empire almost lowered the cost for people in their empire by bringing law to a disorganized land. People and territories may have been conquered but they became part of a bigger system, one that was attempting to become the best possible version of itself. The expansion of the Roman Empire can be summarized in three words: achievement and price. This expansion depicts Fagles’ interpretation on Virgil’s The Aeneid by showcasing the epic’s “two voices, one devoted to Roman prowess, the other to its human costs.” (397). The dedication to Roman accomplishment is placed in a sort of limelight for the reader, either by placing positive connotations on their military victories or justifying their actions by emphasizing the greater good that will arise for their Roman people. There was a definite increase quality of life for the Romans as their empire continued to grow, but it ultimately came at the loss of life from the people they conquered. In a sense, the Roman Empire was like a weed, with