Dido's Heroism In The Aeneid

Why would an immoral person be considered a hero? This has been going on ever since Virgil, the Roman epic poet, wrote the Aeneid. The story follows Aeneas, a Trojan refugee, as he ventures across the world on his way to fulfill his destiny and found Rome. He sails to Carthage, where Queen Dido graciously accepts him and his entire company. During his adventures in Carthage, Aeneas acts in many ways which question his heroism. Although Aeneas and Dido both show themselves to be excellent leaders, because of Aeneas’ dishonorable character, Dido is the better of the two. Throughout Virgil’s Aeneid, Aeneas and Dido lead and inspire those under their command, and they do this in a very effective manner. After Juno sends a tempestuous storm to destroy the boats of the Trojans, Aeneas’ men are ready to give up their journey to found a nation. Aeneas refuses to let this happen and inspires them, saying, “Friends and companions, have we not known hard hours before these?” (I.270-1). Dido also greatly inspires the Carthaginians, for when she stopped making Carthage her

He often abandons his god-given duty, therefore making him impious. After encountering troubles on his odyssey, he strays away from a dutiful, pious mindset and considers the men who died at Troy “Triply lucky” (I.134). He even goes so far as to say, “Why could I not go down… and lose my life on Ilium’s battlefield? (I.137-9). Later, while tarrying in Carthage, he succumbs to Dido’s will and aids in the construction of her city. It takes a god to get him back to the mentality of following the immortals’ task given to him. Lastly, in order to appease Dido’s fury he blames the gods for his secret plan to leave her. The gods did tell he must go, but to use that as an excuse for his foolishness is an act of impiety. Rather than pleasing the gods, Aeneas constantly forsakes his duty and continues to be