The Aeneid Duty

This is how Aeneas introduces himself to the huntress he meets in the forest of Libya (actually, the huntress is his mother, Venus, in disguise). They reveal how much his mission and responsibilities make up his identity.

These lines come at the beginning and the end of the Trojans' feast on the beach in Book 1. They show the burdens of leadership: even though Aeneas feels more saddened than anyone else for the loss of their companions, he also has to hide his grief more than anyone else, so that he can keep up the survivors' spirits.

What could make someone so eager "to leave that land / Of the sweet life behind"? Duty, that's what! Mercury (who was sent down by Jupiter) has just reminded Aeneas of his responsibilities to establish a kingdom for his son Ascanius, which won't happen if he spends all his time with Dido, helping her build her city.

This passage continues the same theme as the previous one. What is different here is that now we see more clearly how Aeneas himself "struggles with desire" for a different life. Why do you think Virgil chose to give us this glimpse into his hero's heart? Do you think knowing how Aeneas acted against his own feelings makes him a greater or a lesser hero?

These words, spoken by Aeneas to Dido when she confronts him about leaving, are his version of the "It's not you, it's me" speech. Well, make that the "It's not you, but it's not me either: it's the implacable powers of destiny that we all must obey." Here, as elsewhere, the Aeneid portrays duty as conflicting with personal desires and connections.

These lines come from the description of Elysium, the pleasant part of the underworld where good people get to chill out until they're reborn. One thing many (though not all) of these people have in common is that they acted for the benefit of others; some have made the ultimate sacrifice for their community. How does this scene from the underworld contribute to the Aeneid's overall perspective on duty?

With these words, Anchises points out to Aeneas the figure of Lucius Junius Brutus among the souls waiting to be reborn. For more on this figure, and the context for the incident Anchises is referring to, check out this link. What do you make of the fact that Anchises lists "unmeasured lust for fame" among his motivations? How does this complicate the poem's overall depiction of duty?

As so many others, this scene shows how Aeneas's strong sense of responsibility prevents him from enjoying the comforts of life. In this case, this is definitely a good thing, since if he were to fall asleep, the ship might crash. Even so, not everything is under Aeneas's control. For a sense of how misfortune can interfere with duty, compare this passage with the very similar scene of the death of Palinurus at the end of Book 5.

These words are spoken by Aeneas over the body of the Arcadian prince Pallas. They show that his grief for the dead boy is not only personal; he is also ashamed of having failed to live up to his promise to protect him.

Here we see Aeneas attempting to restore order after what was going to be a duel between him and Turnus became a scene of mass violence. Aeneas is so committed to honor his agreements that he can't imagine anyone would break them. Can you think of other moments in the poem where Aeneas mistakenly thinks that other people will understand his sense of duty?