Dido and Aeneas: How their similarities and differences played a big part in the Aeneid. In the Aeneid written by Virgil, the two main characters in the story are Aeneas and Dido. Aeneas was the hero who played a prominent part in defending his city against the Greeks during the Trojan War. Dido was the founder of Carthage, who was married to Sychaeus and later became the queen of Carthage. Though they both came from different areas, they both share some similarities and differences that help readers get a clearer understanding of these character’s roles in the story. From the beginning both Aeneas and Dido are seen as refugees who fled their homeland due to the trouble they faced to save not only themselves but their people. Thought they …show more content…
In the beginning of the story, both Aeneas and Dido have things going on that forced them to leave their native land. Aeneas’s homeland is under war and Dido’s husband, is killed and her life is in danger. As a result of this, they can both be seen as refuges. When Troy fell to the Greeks, Virgil recounts, Aeneas, who had fought bravely to the last, was commanded by Hector in a vision to flee and to find a great city overseas. Aeneas escapes with his father, wife and son. Aeneas gathered his family and followers and took the household gods (small images) of Troy, but, in the confusion of leaving the burning city, his wife disappeared. Virgil doesn’t give a lot of insight at the beginning of the story as what happened while he was making his escape. We do learn that his wife trails behind and dies. In Aeneas’ Flight from Troy written by Winfried Schleiner, he gives a better understanding and paints a picture of what happened as he was preparing to leave. Schleiner talks about how Aeneas loyalty seems to be more towards his father than his wife and son. Winfred goes to say in his article that, “they notice of course that Aeneas’s arrangement of his family- setting Anchises on his shoulders, taking his shoulders, taking his