FATE Ingrained in the ancient Roman worldview was the notion that the actions and fortunes of a man were not something he was completely in control of. Man was not able to choose his direction in life or to achieve success by his own merit; his life was compelled rather, by fate. The course of one’s life was not determined by will or resolve, but dictated by a foreseen outcome predestined at the beginning of time; an outcome that would be ensured by a realm of mysterious muscles working behind the scenes to make it so. In Virgil’s epic poem, The Aeneid, we see this belief acted out. It has been foretold that Aeneas and his people will found the Roman Empire. So the story begins with the hero setting sail from the ashes of Troy toward Italy. Fate has ordained the success of Aeneas and the birth of the Roman Empire. Aeneas knows he cannot choose another path and the gods know they cannot prevent it from happening, but this does not keep them all from trying to force their own will into the grand scheme of life and influence how it will all play out. …show more content…
As he tells the stories of his journey to the listening Dido, he often points out that the will and concerns of mortal man bear no meaning in the face of divine destiny. Venus pointed out to him that it was “the harsh will of the Gods” that brought about the destruction of Troy. She helps him to see that even if Troy had the best warriors and the most impenetrable fortress that this was not a war they could have won and though fate seems unfavorable from one moment to the next, in the end it must always be obeyed. As bitter as fate can taste at times, Aeneas can see that fate also enables him to survive the desolation of Troy. Throughout the many future sufferings, he and his men will face on their way to Italy, Aeneas will keep the promise of his eventual victory in the back of his mind to spur him on when it seems that all is