Consisting of both war and peace, internal strife and expansion, violent power shifts and stability, Rome’s history is not a simple one. Numerous military victories and the ultimate triumph of the Romans denote fortune, yet behind these accomplishments were times of suffering and great tragedy. Hence, when Vergil was commissioned by Augustus to write an epic that would glorify the Roman Empire, he sought to capture this complexity.In The Aeneid, Vergil highlights both the heroic and the human sides of his protagonist, Aeneas, to represent the clash between Rome’s destined success and the hardships of its creation.
Throughout much of his voyage, Aeneas is characterized by Vergil as a gallant leader who overcomes obstacles with his outstanding strength of character. This is especially apparent in a speech that Aeneas gives to his disheartened men upon landing in Libya due to a tempest. In the speech, Aeneas reminds his men that “vos et Scyllaeam rabiem penitusque sonantis accestis scopulos, vos et Cyclopea saxa experti” (1.200-202). In these allusions to The Odyssey, Aeneas points out the impressive victories that his men have already won against Scylla and the Cyclops. Consequently, Roman readers are compelled to picture Aeneas bravely leading his men through victories in formidable battles, and they come to idealize the founding of their great empire. Revelling in their heroic history, they are nothing short of prideful. Aeneas is not finished, however. He urges his men to “Durate, et vosmet rebus servate secundis” (1207). By telling his men to endure and to save themselves for better times that are coming, Aeneas shifts his men’s focus from their current hardships to their original goal of founding an empire in Latium. The enduring nature of the line’s meter, in which all but the fifth feet are spondees and have long vowels, also confirms Aeneas’ message to maintain strength. Aeneas inspires his men to remember that the Trojan triumph in Latium is destined by the gods, and he capitalizes on this promising fate to encourage resilience. As Roman readers witness Aeneas’ forward-thinking outlook on the difficult circumstances at hand, they rejoice, proud to be descendants of such a courageous and moving hero.
However, Vergil also provides glimpses into the fear and doubt that Aeneas actually harbors. Immediately after Aeneas finishes his speech to his men, Vergil narrates that “talia voce refert, curisque ingentibus aeger spem vultu simulat, premit altum corde dolorem” (1.208-209). Through the use of the third person omniscient viewpoint, Vergil juxtaposes Aeneas’ outward confidence with his internal uncertainty. He reveals that although Aeneas may radiate hope to his men, he is merely pretending; on the inside, he, too, is burdened with worries. This vulnerable side of Aeneas is unexpected and lies in stark contrast to his previous depiction as an inspiring and fearless leader. Furthermore, it provides Roman readers with a powerful lense into the harsh reality of the situation: their previously idealistic perception of Rome’s creation is modified — even marred — by their newfound understanding that the journey to Latium was not easy. Despite the Roman victory being fated, the hardships encountered by the soldiers were so daunting that even the valiant Aeneas wavered in his faith.
As he wielded the power to quite literally write Rome’s history, Vergil sought to express both the admirable and devastating aspects of Rome’s creation. It is for this reason that the subtlety of The Aeneid resists easy generalizations. Embracing the intricacies of the empire’s past and realizing that successes and obstacles came hand in hand, Vergil left his readers grappling with an imperfect but magnificent tale of their empire.
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