Aeneas

In my personal opinion, Aeneas is a very loyal character. Also, there is evidence of Aeneas as being very caring and protective of his family and allies. I first detected this notion of Aeneas being loyal and caring towards his family members in the following passage.

"And Aeneas, being a thoughtful father, sped Achates back to the ships with tidings for Iulus, his is to join them; all the father's fondness is centered on the son. (pg. 26)

Aeneas is continued to be shown as a usually very thoughtful and considerate of

his family throughout the entire tale. He takes great pride in his only son, Iulus, and wishes for him to someday be great and begin his own empire. RthnIt is continually shown to us just how willing Aeneas is to make sure this happens. The following passage helps probe this point. In it, Mercury has been sent by Jove to speak with Aeneas while he is staying at Dido's empire, Carthage. Mercury is sent to warn Aeneas of what he will be giving up for himself and his only son. He warns him to leave Carthage, otherwise he will ruin his son's future that holds much greatness for him.

"If your own fame and fortune count as nothing, think of Ascanius at least, who's kingdom in Italy, whose Roman land, are waiting as promise justly due."(pg 96)

Aeneas, thinking of his son's great future, follows the god's wishes and soon conjures up a plan to leave the city of Carthage. This part of the tale, in book four, is a very important part, showing us just how much Aeneas cares for his son. This particular scene also shows us how loyal Aeneas was to the gods. Although Aeneas seem to enjoy being at Carthage with Dido, he has an ability to follow the god's wishes and accept his destined path.

Another passage in the story again proves just how much family means to Aeneas.

"At last I reached the house, I found my father, the first one that I looked for. I meant to take him to the safety of the hills, but he was stubborn, refusing longer life or barren exile, since Troy was dead." (pg 54)

Aeneas obviously cares very much for his father, Anchises, and wants to take him to safey, away from the Greek invaders. Although his father did not want to leave his home at first, Aeneas eventually talks him into heading for safety. Aeneas actually carries his father on his back through the forests until they reached safe grounds. Aeneas also brings along his wife, Creusa, and his son, Iulus. Although Creusa is somehow lost along the trip, he manages to bring Anchises and Iulus finally to safety. Aeneas does go back and searches for his missing wife, but instead finds a shadow of her, telling him to move on and search for the empire.

Aeneas is also very considerate towards other people's feelings. When Aeneas is leaving Carthage, he shows feelings of compassion towards Dido. Although he can not make these feelings clear to her, he shows that he does feel them through the following passage.

"And good Aeneas, longing to ease her grief with comfort, to say something to turn her pain and hurt away, sighs often, his heart being moved by this great love, most deeply, and still-the gods give orders, he obeys them; he goes back to the fleet." (pg. 101)

This particular passage also shows us that Aeneas truly is very loyal to the gods.

While Aeneas considered staying in Carthage with Dido, he knew that he must obey the god's orders. Another part of the tale, also indicates how loyal he is to the gods. After Aeneas fled Troy, he eventually sailed to another location, a new city site which he called Aeneadae, named after himself. It seems that Aeneas considers staying at this new site. Shortly after landing, Aeneas offers his mother, Venus, proper homage. He needed greenery to veil the alter, but when he tried to pull the branches off, they started to bleed a black blood. This was a sign from Polydorus, sent by Priam, telling him that he and his companions need to flee from this land as soon as possible, because a curse of greed lies on its' shores. Aeneas knows how important it is to follow these commands and again proves how loyal he is by taking this advice and leaving the land.

Also, at the end of the this tale, Aeneas yet again shows us that he is very loyal to his companions as well as the gods. After Aeneas sees that Turnus killed Evander's son, Pallas, he fulfills his promise to Evander and kills Turnus in order to get vengeance for Pallas's death. Evander, king of Pallanteum, was one of the Trojan's allies. His only wish after he sent Pallas into the war to help the Trojans, was to see his son alive once more