Examples Of Dido In Aeneid

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A Victim of Fate Despite how most readers may view her, I believe that Dido is considered to be a victim of the gods, which ultimately lead her to her own death. When introduced in book I of Virgil’s tale Aeneid, as explained to Aeneas by his mother Venus (disguised as a huntress), Dido is revealed as a respected queen to the people of Carthage. At the same time, she is determined to never marry again. As told by Venus, “Her husband was Sychaeus, of all Phoenicians richest in land, and greatly loved by her,” (Book I, lines 468-469). Although her husband was the richest of all Tyre, her brother Pygmalion, King of Tyre, became obsessed with his money and he decides to kill him. Pygmalion kept this act from Dido till she had a dream with her…show more content…
At that time, Dido actually began to fall in love with Aeneas, especially since they each have similarities. For example, both were widowed (Dido lost her husband while Aeneas lost his wife during his escape from Troy), not to mention how they fled their individual homes to establish new homes as well as saving lives in the process. Although she begins falling in love with him, Dido still keeps the memories of her previous marriage, of her husband Sychaeus and his murder by her greedy brother, not to mention her promise to never love another man, and she couldn't be with Aeneas because of it. However, aligning herself with Juno, goddess of marriage, Aenea’s antagonist and supporter of Dido and Carthage, Venus (Aphrodite, goddess of love) played a trick on them and made it rain during a hunting trip, and they had to find shelter in the same cave. Now, before all this, during their feast, Dido did develop feelings for Aeneas, thanks to the workings of Venus after she sent her son, Cupid (disguised as Aeneas son, Ascanius) to inflame her with love for Aeneas in book I. And though she wanted nothing to do with going any further with him, she basically had no choice thanks to Venus and Juno. Soon after they had their “marriage” in the cave, planned by Juno, the sparks began to fly as Dido’s love began to grow…show more content…
You deceived me? The pyre meant this, altars and fires meant this? What shall I mourn first, being abandoned? Did you Scorn your sister's company in death? You should have called me out to the same fate! The same blade's edge and hurt, at the same hour, Should have taken us off. With my own hands had I build this pyre, and had I call upon our country’s gods, that in the end with you placed on it there, O heartless one, I should be absent? You have put to death yourself and me, the people and the fathers bred in Sidon, and your own new city. Give me fresh water, let me bathe her wound and catch upon my lips any last breath hovering over hers” (lines

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