The Aenied Case

The Aeneid

The tradition of the epic The Aeneid requires a unique style of speech and textual manipulation in order to highlight the important themes contained within the epic. The most prominent theme carried throughout the epic is the extreme historical importance of the establishment of the Roman Empire. Virgil utilizes three specific devices in order to place proper emphasis on this theme, techniques that are applied broadly throughout the epic. First, Virgil highlights this theme through the use of a device known as an authorial comment. As a citizen of the empire of Rome, Virgil is able to include his reflective opinion on its founding, allowing it to be greatly stressed throughout the poem. Additionally, the epic utilizes epic similes over its entirety to place emphasis on the types of people and conflicts associated with the founding of such a vast empire. These comparisons apply knowledge that the readers already have with situations in the protagonist's heroic quest to establish Rome, allowing it to be understood on a deeper and more symbolic level. Finally, Virgil aims at keeping his audience aware of his major theme by utilizing the contrast between two domains of life: the earth itself and the underworld. The physical structure of the underworld is such that it highlights the characteristics of the ideal Roman person and allows for the revelation of how the fulfillment of the establishment of Rome will occur. As will be made evident, Virgil utilizes these three techniques to place emphasis on the most important purpose of his work: to honor the characters and hardships associated with the establishment of the Roman Empire.

First, Virgil allows for his audience to understand the importance of this major theme through the use of authorial comments. As is explained by Humphries, the author of the text's introduction, Virgil wrote his epic in the context of the fully established Roman Empire, and thus wrote the epic as, "a culmination of what seems to have been a lifelong yearning to write a national epic that would be for the Romans and their values."(xi)1 Thus the epic is backwards-looking, allowing for Virgil to place his authorial comments in the poem where he feels necessary in order to highlight his main thematic goal. First, Virgil utilizes this technique in order to identify the hardships that are associated with the creation of the new Empire. As he seeks to place emphasis on these difficulties associated with establishment of the Empire, Virgil says that there, "Is a greater mission, A greater work, that moves me." (7.41-42) It is understood from Virgil's comment that the greater mission he identifies is his narration of the complicated battles and alliances that will decide the future of Rome.2 The emphasis that is placed on these events by the author himself demonstrates to the reader the great importance of the establishment of the Empire within the epic. In addition, Virgil gives his authorial comment in order to highlight the types of qualities the heroic founders of Rome must possess, and what human characteristics may get in the way of the ultimate goal. Virgil emphasizes the kinds of qualities that could have stood in the way through the use of two characters, Nisus and Eurylaus, who are killed in battle due to their own recklessness. The boys are described by Virgil as, "Fortunate boys!" and, "If there is any power in my verses,/ You will not be forgotten in time and story (9.459-461) Through this comment, it is made evident that Virgil places these characters in his epic to serve a specific purpose- to demonstrate to the reader the types of characteristics that can cause failure in the battle to establish Rome, even sating that the boys will live on forever in the epic as examples of the consequences associated with unheroic behavior. Evidentially, Virgil utilizes authorial comments in order to place emphasis on various aspects the theme of the establishment of the Roman Empire.

Additionally, a device known as an epic simile is used throughout the epic as a way for Virgil to once again cue his audience in to his main theme of the founding of Rome. An epic simile keeps listeners engaged in this theme because it provides a contextual comparison of what they are already familiar with to occurrences within the life of the protagonist. The comparisons are able to provide vigor to the epic as a story of establishment of a grand society, making it easier to visualize and thus more exciting. In the context of the Aeneid, Virgil attempts to once again highlight characteristics that are either desirable or detrimental within the persona of certain characters attempting to establish Rome. The heroic character Aeneas, who is the prophesized founder of the empire, is described as having a "Swift mind," that, 'Went searching, probing, veering