Please read this summary of Virgil's Aeneid. Then read as much as you can of Book I and Book II. Skimming through Book I is sufficient. Please read Book II with a bit more care.Cite a line or two from Book I or Book II that particularly well show Virgil's "insight into the human condition," i.e., that shows his understanding of subjects like fate, the relationships between men and women, relationships between men and gods, the impact of war, etc.
"What colossal madness is this, you pitiful people? Do you really believe the enemy have sailed away? Do you think the Greeks make any gifts which are not tricks? Is this the Ulysses you know? Either Greeks are hidden secreted within this wood, or this is a device to attack our walls: it will spy on our homes and roll down upon the city, or it is some other kind of boobytrap. Trojans, do not trust the horse. Whatever it is, I fear the Greeks - especially bringing gifts."
ReplyDeleteWhile many might claim that Laocoön was being insane (if we were to remove the context that is practically common knowledge at this point), that the Greeks really had left and had given a present as a sort of 'surrendering gift', we only have to point towards Troy's lived experience beforehand.
They have been trapped within the walls of their city for who knows how long. Their provisions, as numerous as they could be, will not last forever, and starvation could have easily been in the cards if the war did not end.
People have faced the horrors of war, slept with fear that at any moment, their home would be invaded and they would be thrown into slavery or worse.
Truly, Laocoön's outburst was not one of emotional hysteria, although it could be. It was an outburst of wisdom, a justified fear. A deep wound left by war that continued to fester even in the face of assumed safey.
And this, to me, shows just how well Virgil understood the human mind.
This outburst is not met by the mocking of the citizens - it is instead met with concern and fear that it might be true. They end up whipping themselves into a fervor, successfully being distracted by a prisoner and only being quieted when they saw how miserable the prisoner they had was. These same individuals, who not five moments ago been taunting him.
Doubtless, had he been indignant and insulting towards the people of Troy, they would have gotten angrier and would have likely killed him.
It's a masterful piece regarding people suffering in a time of war.
One part of book two that stood out to me and shows Virgil's incite into the human condition is in the speech that the ghost of Aeneas' wife, Creusa, gave. At the end of explaining why it was alright that she died and could not go with him she says this to him, "Farewell now; keep alive our love for the son we share." I think that Virgil is addressing the fact that some people withhold love from those who are closest to them when they are grieving. Aeneas could avoid his son because he reminds Aeneas that his wife is gone. Aeneas could build a new life with another woman as prophesied and favor those children over his first son as a way to move on with his life. Or Aeneas could get so busy trying to make up for the death of his wife, which he blames himself for, that he neglects the family he has left. But Creusa reminds Aeneas not to let their love for their son die with her. He is all Aeneas has left of the wonderful life they shared.
ReplyDeleteDylan -
ReplyDeleteI have two quotes that I want to use:
“It is not my will, but Fate, that has ordained it” and “I tried to throw my arms around her neck —Three times I clasped her, and three times her ghost Slipped through my hands like a breeze or a dream.”
I think Virgil used the fate line to mirror his belief that certain things cannot be changed. Fate is something that one should deal with, not question and try to alter. In order to come to peace, you have to fully accept your fate, no matter what it is. The other quote about Aeneas trying to hold his dead wife shows the impact war has everyone, not just the warriors going to battle. It shows that Aeneas was deeply moved over his wife's death and the helplessness that he feels while grieving.
"But meanwhile Neptune felt the sea moving and grumbling mightlily, as he realised that a storm had been launched. He was greatly displeased, and calmly lifted his head above the wave crests, looking out far over the deep. He saw Aeneas' fleet strewn across the entire ocean, the Trojans swamped by the waves as destruction rained from the sky. And Juno's treachery and evil temper did not escape her brother's notice."
ReplyDeleteFrom this quote from Book I it shows Virgil's power to show the fate of Aeneas. His fleet is being destroyed by Juno who loves Cartage and hates Troy. She can se that the Empire Aeneas founds will eventually be the downfall of Carthage. All of this is interrupted by Neptune who notices a storm is happening that he didn't know about. He stops the storm, and by doing this a few of Aeneas's ships are able to survive, ensuring that Aeneas will finish his journey. If it was not fate for Aeneas then Neptune would never have stepped in to save him.
"So saying, with tremendous force he launched his massive spear at its flank, aiming at the curving woodwork of the beast's belly. There it stuck, shuddering, and the cavernous hollows reverberated and groaned as it struck the pregnant womb. And, if the will of the gods had not been against us, and our own will had not faltered, he would have thrust the weapon through and disgraced the Greeks cowering in their lair: Troy would now be standing, and the high acropolis of Priam would be there still."
This quote from Book II shows another unique fate brought upon the Trojans'. Here they have a man who wants to show that the horse gifted to them is indeed a trap. He throws a spear at the horse to break through it and show everyone. The spear fails to go through it, and the man is taken away. If the spear had broken through the Trojans' would've seen it was a trap and stopped it from destroying there city. This is another Virgil shows us how fate is meant to play out.
"Then indeed a fresh panic crept into all our palpitating hearts, and they said that Laocoön deserved to have paid for his crime, for damaging the sacred wood with his spear-point, and aiming his evil lance at the horse's back. The clamoured for the image to be towed to its rightful position, and for the goddess's power to be appeased.
ReplyDeleteWe breached the walls and exposed the buildings of the city. Everyone readied themselves for the task and slid rollers under the feet, and tied ropes of hemp round its neck. The deadly engine, pregnant with armed men mounted our walls. Boys and unmarried girls sang hymns around us, delighted to touch the rope with their hands. The horse crawled on, and came to rest menacingly in the centre of the city."
I chose this line due to its context and Virgils insight into the human nature. Before this event the people of the city were naturally skeptical of the Wooden Horse and smartly kept it out and stabbed it. But Virgil demonstrates the superstitious and omen reliance of people. An omen of two serpents attacking the shores led the people to panic and fear they angered the gods. So the forget their wits to please the gods and bring the horse into the city disregarding their rightful skepticism.
"through what damage to her power, what wound, did the queen of the gods drive a man famous for his respect to live through so many agonies?
ReplyDeleteCan so potent a fury blaze in a god’s heart?”
I chose this one because it talks about how they can one god give so much pain suffering to humans and how nothing can be done. Virgil in this quote is thinking to himself that and wonders if gods have emotions and can be doing their actions based off of those.
"In an insane impulse, I grabbed up my weapons; not that armed resistance made any sense - but I had a wild impulse to rally a group of men to fight, and storm the acropolis with my friends. A mad rage overwhelmed common sense: "to die in battle is glorious" -this phrase drove me on."
ReplyDeleteI think that this excerpt from Virgil in which Aeneas is describing his reaction to seeing the surprise of the battle, somewhat shows Virgil's understanding of the "flight-or-fight" response that humans have. Aeneas, probably shocked at what he sees after being woken up, is described to have a mad rage overwhelm his common sense, which causes him to gear up for a fight and want to rally up some people. I also think this shows how Virgil understands the motivation of a man driven by impulse, and how emotions like that can affect a man, and how rage and impulse drove Aeneas to want to fight in a battle that he probably wasn't favored in.
^ Kyle
Delete“We stood, unhappy ones, and blind with madness, we set the monstrous horse within the sacred walls.”
ReplyDeleteIn this scene from Book II of the Aeneid, the Greeks pretend to sail away and leave behind a huge wooden horse as an offering. The Trojans argue about what to do with it. Some think it’s a trick, but others believe the Greeks have finally given up. Ignoring the warnings of Laocoon, who says, “Beware of Greeks bearing gifts,” the Trojans pull the horse into their city, not realizing Greek soldiers are hiding inside.
This shows Virgil’s insight into human nature by revealing how people can be easily fooled when different emotions get mixed together. The Trojans want peace so badly that they convince themselves the danger is over. Virgil is pointing out that people often ignore the truth when it’s painful, and that sometimes our biggest mistakes come from wanting to believe things are better than they they really are.
I found one line interesting at the beginning of Book II. "What colossal madness is this, you pitiful people? Do you really believe the enemy have sailed away? Do you think the Greeks make any gifts which are not tricks? Is this the Ulysses you know? Either Greeks are hidden secreted within this wood, or this is a device to attack our walls: it will spy on our homes and roll down upon the city, or it is some other kind of boobytrap. Trojans, do not trust the horse. Whatever it is, I fear the Greeks - especially bringing gifts." This directly correlates to the Greeks war with the Trojans. It's referring to the wooden horse the Greeks presented to the Trojans as a "gift" and to end the war. However, there were Greek soldiers inside the horse who eventually came out and slaughtered the Trojans in the city of Troy. This shows the impact of war lasts forever. It's saying you shouldn't trust the Greeks when they bring gifts because they have already shown to use those gifts as weapons, showing they are untrustworthy altogether. It shows that how we treat people now will determine how people treat us later.
ReplyDeleteForgot to put my name, but this is by me.
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