Deus Ex Machina and Fate Vs. Duty

Deus ex Machina and Fate vs. Duty

in Homer's The Iliad and Virgil's The Aeneid

The actions taken by the gods in the works of Homer's The Iliad and Virgil's The Aeneid are numerous and important. Both works gain their momentum from the activities of the gods, and without these heavenly actors the two stories would quickly become stagnant and fizzle out into inaction. The central divine driving force in both of the works is the wrath of two female gods: Juno(Hera:Greek) and Minerva(Athena:Greek). These two are responsible for much of the driving force in the two stories as they settle their vendetta with the Paris and the Trojans. As a result, and for purposes of scope, this essay will examine specifically the effects of the godly intervention on the Trojans and Troy.

In The Iliad the actions of the gods culminate into the beginning of the end for Troy. Hector is slain with the help of Minerva. Achilles is properly prodded into fighting through the death of Patroclus, who for all intents and purposes is handed over if not slain at the hand of Apollo himself. Any god with anything to say to the contrary has their hands tied by fate. With Troy's hero Hector fallen the city is all but lost.

In the beginning of The Aeneid the Trojans still can't escape their tormentors even after the fall of Troy. Sure enough, “Hell hath no fury...”, and at Juno's request Aeolus unleashes a great storm upon the Trojans, and they are forced to land near Carthage. The landed party is led by Aeneus, son of Venus(Aphrodite:Greek). Venus, concerned for her son, appeals to Jupiter(Zeus:Greek) for help. Jupiter reassures her that Aeneus and the Trojans will have a bright future. Venus with Cupid and Jupiter with Mercury(Hermes:Greek) ease Aeneus into the good graces of Dido. In comparison to Homer's work the divine intervention in Virgil's seems to be that of slightly more mature gods. In The Iliad the gods are just as, if not more, emotional than some of the mortal characters. “This provoked and angry response from Hera: [...] But Hector is mortal and suckled at a woman's breast, while Achilles is born of a goddess whom I nourished and reared myself” (XXIV:60) The more mature gods in Virgil's