Dido's Treatment Of Women In The Aeneid

In the patriarchal societies of the Mediterranean, we saw women treated as objects rather than people, with limited rights compared to men. Men established that women benefited them by having an inheritance, enabling women to reproduce. With the few female representations in a higher power, such as Dido, the Queen of Carthage, who found and prospered in her city. In Aeneid, they show Dido is a strong, independent woman, and that feelings cause her downfall. Aeneas perceives himself as thinking with his head rather than his heart, resembling an astute person. Where masculinity is viewed as the norm, those of more masculine traits will always overshine those of more feminine ones. The expected role of women in society is to act with modesty

Dido and Aeneas' behavior shows heroic dimensions, but their expressions of these qualities differ in significant ways. While Dido shows her heroic qualities through her treatment, fair and orderly, Aeneas shows his dedication to his country and people by leaving everything behind. The brief glimpse of Dido's personality is that we see a woman who treats everyone equally with respect. Virgil states, “All hedged about with guards on her high throne, she took her seat. Then she gave them judgments and rulings, to apportion work with fairness, or assign some tasks by a lot” (The Aeneid 21.) We can only sense the living of comfort and security these people felt living in a city of peace and harmony that reveals her personality of wisdom, leadership, and compassion for all, as she will help those who need it; Aeneas. Although we see Aeneas abandon Dido, it goes back to it not being his choice entirely but also to the gods that played the protagonist in his life, reminding him he couldn’t stay with Dido because that wasn’t his fate. Virgil states, “According to my wishes, I should look after Troy and the loved relics left me of

Dido preserves the memory of her dead husband and will remain devoted to him until she dies, but that plan doesn't go her way when she falls in love with Aeneas. Aeneas is a warrior who has lost everything and found himself in a strange land. Fate throws together the two, and their hearts soon lead them down a path of love and heartbreak. Virgil states, “This man alone has wrought upon me so and moved my soul to yield. I recognize the signs of old flame, of old desire” (The Aeneid 96). Although she feels a strong sense of attraction towards Aeneas, a feeling that she tries to avoid at first, it is almost impossible. She compromises her promise for Aeneas, who brings a part of her spirit back into her. Besides her willingness to break her promise for Aeneas, he isn’t willing to do the same as he follows the fate his mom has imposed, doing everything he can to meet her expectations and not fail her by ignoring his feelings towards Dido. Virgil states, “With twenty ships I mounted the Phrygian sea, as my immortal mother showed the way. I followed the fates” (The Aeneid 17). But in doing so, he faces the consequences of putting his happiness at risk, but with no regrets. He hurts others and himself in making sure his mom is proud of him. The price of loyalty is an internal struggle with guilt, because of the risk of making sure those around you feel