determines that the Trojans WILL found a
new city in Italy, but not HOW they will do
that
power of fate stands above the power of the gods in
the hierarchy of supernatural forces
Aeneas preserves his sanity + his life + those of his
men by subordinating his own anxieties + desires to
the demands of fate + rules of piety
Fate is a devine, religious principal that determines the
course of history + has cumilated in the Roman Empire
destiny assigned to gods + mortals by
the 3 fates + their law are inescapeable
some details of fate not determined in
advance i.e. will happen but not how it
happense
Juno gives up hostilites, recognises Fate decreed Aeneas will
triumph over Latins so asks Jupiter to preseve the Latins
language + customs because this is something which is still
possible + not laid out by Fate:: Nulla fata quod lege tenetur
(Book XII line 819)
for each man his day stands fixed. For all mankind, the
days of life are few, and not to be restored. But to prolong
fame by deeds, that is valours task. Under Troy's high
ramparts fell all those many sons of gods; yes, and with
them fell my own son, Sarpedon. Turnus also has his doom
calling him; he too has reached the goal of his allotted years (Book X, said by Jupiter)?????
Roman Beliefs
believe in both fate AND free will
i.e. you have an obligation but it is your choice to follow it
Specific to Aeneas
direction + destination of Aeneas's course is preordained,
all obstacles just postpone his unchangeable destiny
sign of Aenea's maturity + leadership that he finds the
knowledge of nis destiny a source of strength + comfort
tum socios maetisque metum solontur
Iuli, fata docens... (Book XII lines 110-111)
he is sure that he will eventually be successful, no
matter what obstacles are put in his path, because
the fates have decreed his destiny
Importance to Characteres
development of characters
reflected in readiness or
resistance with fate
Juno + Turnus fight fate , but at the finale , both
transform, resigning themselves ti fate, allowing the
story to reach its end
Dido desires Aeneas, who fate denies
her, and her desire consumes her