Theme Of War In The Aeneid

Virgil opposes the common portrayal of war in classic literature as something of honor and glory with several aspects of The Aeneid but specifically in the epic simile used to introduce Aeneas’ experience in battle by emphasizing the cost of war. Battle is first seen in the narrative as only causing the destruction of Ilium by the Greek army led by Pyrrhus, whose name is now used as a term to define a war that has “suffered a great number of casualties; (hence) gained at too great a cost to be worthwhile” (OED s. v. “pyrrhic”). This theme is reiterated in an additional simile found in Book X that uses mirroring symbolism in the context of war, this time with Pallas in Latium, proving his intention of illustrating the cost of war.

Book II describes

Aspects of the simile are referenced throughout the attack. In the tenor, it is revealed that the sound is the burning of Troy by the Greeks, closest to a wildfire. However, the other three possible sounds are subtly added as well. In reference to the raging Southwind, the lines “As when a cyclone breaks, conflicting winds / Will come together, Westwind, Southwind, Eastwind” use wind as a vehicle for Greeks attacking from every direction (II.549-550). The mention of a foaming river and flood destroying land are repeated and combined later in Book II to describe Pyrrhus charging into the vestibule, immediately followed by a flood of Greek soldiers that “whelms every parapet and races on / Through fields and over all the lowland plains” (II.647-648). The start of the simile establishes the general feeling of helplessness, and the smaller details within show the aspects of the attack itself. When the two sections of the vehicle combine, they tell the greater meaning of the tenor and narrative, the cost of

The shepherd in Book II stood helpless as fire destroyed his land, but the resembling simile describes the success of Pallas in battle. The young prince proved himself to be heroic, not helpless, proficient in fighting and as a leader in war, until killed by Turnus. When Pallas spots the Arcadians retreating, he gives a speech in an attempt to motivate the men and immediately charged the battle field. His bravery and his distinguished fighting incited the men to join him. This simile in Book X contains a shepherd setting scattered, individual fires on his land that grow to be one. Pallas played the part of the shepherd, the separate fires he created are the Greeks he inspires, who then grew to become an army or as referred to in the vehicle, “Vulcan’s / Line of battle” (X.558-559). However, if the metaphor extended, the fires created by the shepherd, once described as triumphant, would consume him in the end. Both similes used in different wars and different circumstances share the same message. Though he was successful, war always has a cost, and this costed Pallas his life in his first