The Aeneid And Ovid Analysis

. It is no secret that Virgil, who wrote The Aeneid, and Ovid, the author of “Pyramus and Thisbe,” are two of the most famous and renowned storytellers of ancient history. So, why did the ruler of Rome, Caesar Augustus, choose to endorse the work of Virgil while he banned Ovid from Rome? The answer lies in the moral message and the values of each myth, and the cultural differences that form their foundations. In The Aeneid, readers are immediately introduced to Aeneas, a warrior from Troy who is leading his men in a quest to found what will eventually become Rome. He is shown to be a strong leader, and his men look to him for guidance. In fact, later in the story after they have been brought to Carthage, his men tell the queen, Dido, that they view Aeneas as the “greatest of all men in virtue and in deeds of war.” They also refer to him as “our king.” Aeneas certainly does look to provide for his men, going out to get them food when they are stranded in Libya. In addition to its emphasis on leadership, this story also contains message regarding the

Unlike The Aeneid, this story puts authority figures in a bad light. The disapproval of the two fathers is what keeps the two lovers apart. The parents are portrayed as stubborn, only allowing Pyramus and Thisbe to be together when they are buried in a grave. It can be argued that Ovid implies that Pyramus and Thisbe are in the wrong and their parents are in the right, but those are implications that can be interpreted in different ways. It seems that Ovid may be saying that disobedience is sometimes necessary to get what you want. Another main difference between these two tales is the way they conclude. The Aeneid ends on a happier note. Aeneas defeats Turnus and claims Lavinia as his wife. The ending of “Pyramus and Thisbe,” however, serves as a reminder that decisions, even right ones, can yield tragic