Aeneid Vs. Odyssey Essay, Research Paper

Both the Odyssey and the Aeneid portion some similarities as heroic poems ; both

depict the tests of a epic figure who is the ideal representative of a

peculiar civilization. There are even single scenes in the Aeneid are

borrowed from the Odyssey. Yet, why are Odysseus and Aeneas so unlike one

another? The reply is that the writers lived in two different universes, whose

values and perceptual experiences varied greatly of a cardinal degree.

To exemplify, two common thoughts woven into the Odyssey are usage and

foolhardiness. Customss were handed down by the Gods, and were meant to maintain

work forces safe by giving them civilisation. When work forces were foolhardy ( when they

flaunted usage and the Gods ) , they invited requital and pandemonium by puting

themselves outside the appointed range of humanity. Furthermore, if the imposts

are followed and proper regard given the Gods, it is possible for adult male to populate

in harmoniousness indefinitely.

In contrast, the Aeneid propounds upon fad and civitas. Fad is the

strife that lies at the bosom of each individual which engenders force, and

this fad must be restrained in order for civilisation to work. This gives

rise to the thought of civitas, the overpowering devotedness to the province above

selfish personal desire ; this is the lone manner adult male can concatenation furor on a big

graduated table. Furthermore, it is ever possible for fad to surface ; even after old ages

of forfeit and changeless watchfulness, peace is ne’er guaranteed.

These differences in ethos are most easy seen when Virgil borrows a

scene and transforms it to his ain terminals. For illustration, Virgil adopts the

episode where Odysseus washes up on the shore of Skheria and meets the

Phaiakians and uses it to organize the nucleus of Aeneid I and II.

In the Odyssey, the episode begins with Odysseus on his stopgap raft,

heading place after all his tests. His eventual transition place has been agreed

upon by Zeus, & # 8220 ; whose will is non capable to error. & # 8221 ; 1 However, in the yesteryear

Odysseus wounded Polyphemos and in foolhardy wantonness questioned the power of

the Gods ; while he was flying from the Cyclops he yelled & # 8220 ; If I could take

your life I would and take your clip off, and cast you down to hell! The God

of temblor could non mend you at that place! & # 8221 ; 2 For this insult, Poseidon decided

to do Odysseus & # 8217 ; journey place a long and hard one. The God of the sea

sends a storm his manner but Odysseus survives with the Nereid Ino & # 8217 ; s gift and

counsel. After Poseidon departs, he eventually reaches Skheria & # 8217 ; s shore with

Athena & # 8217 ; s aid.

The gap scenes in the Aeneid corresponds to Homer & # 8217 ; s sequence. Aeneas

and the Trojans are on their ships, heading to establish a new metropolis after many

parturiencies. The eventual initiation of the metropolis has been agreed upon by Jupiter,

and therefore the Trojan & # 8217 ; s & # 8220 ; [ d ] estiny is unchanged & # 8221 ; 3 regardless of what catastrophe

befalls them. However, Juno is worried that the Trojans & # 8217 ; posterities will

finally surpass the Greeks, & # 8220 ; root up her Libyan imperium & # 8221 ; 4, and & # 8220 ; enslave the

kids of Agamemnon & # 8221 ; 5 ; so she convinces Aeolus to let go of to some air currents to

destruct them now. The air currents are so ferocious that they need a & # 8220 ; pile of mountains

[ laid ] upon them & # 8221 ; and even so & # 8220 ; [ b ] ehind the bars they bellow, mightily

fretting: the mountain is one immense murmur. & # 8221 ; 6 Aeolus releases them by

forcing his lance at the wing of the mountain, and & # 8220 ; in a solid mass, [ they ]

cast themselves through the Gatess & # 8221 ; and they about devastate the Trojans.

Neptune quiets the air currents and the seas, and so sit off.

Odysseus and the Trojans have much in common. Both are plagued by Gods

( the former by Poseidon and the latter by Juno ) . Despite their problems, both

are besides guaranteed eventual success, for their achievements have been

ordained by the supreme God, and this can non be denied. However, the

differentiation between the beginning of their troubles is an of import one.

Odysseus volitionally invited catastrophe by flashing the power of the Gods. If he

had non done so and followed usage as he should, he would hold returned place

much Oklahoman with much less parturiency. The Trojans are merely capable to

catastrophe, for no ground whatsoever. The air currents are specifically portrayed as

edge fad for this ground ; in Virgil & # 8217 ; s universe fad is ever present and can

work stoppage at any clip. At the minute, this is merely a elusive difference, but

farther into the episode it becomes magnified.

In the Odyssey, Odysseus meets Nausikaa and wins her over, gaining transition

into the metropolis. He so proceeds to Phaiakia and meets Athena in the pretense of

a small miss. With Athena & # 8217 ; s counsel he makes his manner to the castle, under a

mist which screens him from sight. There he stops to look up to the courtyard and

grove, and pauses to organize his ideas before come ining. He so finds Arete

and beseeches her to assist him. The corresponding scenes have been fused and

altered in the Aeneid. Aeneas first attempts to reconnoiter the country and meets Venus

in the pretense of a Tyrian miss. With Venus & # 8217 ; s counsel he makes his manner to the

temple/court, under a similar mist. While look up toing the metropolis builders, he

Michigans and plaints over some frescoes of the Trojans war. He sees Dido

distributing justness in her tribunal, and so sees his companion Ilioneus winning

her over. After detecting this he reveals himself and thanks Dido for her

understanding and aid.

Here we begin to see the divergency between the episodes. Phaiakia

represents the ultimate god-blessed society, so fortunate that it has no

apprehension of the agony nowadays in human experience. One is led to

believe that they have ne’er known hungriness or thirst, since their castle has an

grove upon which & # 8220 ; [ f ] ruits ne’er failed & # 8221 ; 7 ; they feast on & # 8220 ; abundant menu & # 8221 ; 8

and hold a clear fountain to function & # 8220 ; all who came for water. & # 8221 ; 9 Nor have the

Phaiakians of all time known true struggle or division, as & # 8220 ; [ n ] o decorate or wisdom

fails in [ Arete ] ; so merely work forces in wrangles [ go ] to her for equity & # 8221 ; 10 and

& # 8220 ; the power or [ their ] people stands & # 8221 ; 11 with Alkinoos. It is besides certain that

the Phaiakians have ne’er known war, since & # 8220 ; there & # 8217 ; s no sap is so cheeky, and

ne’er will be, as to convey war or loot to [ that ] coast. & # 8221 ; 12 Consequently,

they have no appreciation of the horrors of war, for Alkinoos needs to inquire Odysseus

why he & # 8220 ; grieve [ s ] so awfully over & # 8230 ; the autumn of Troy. & # 8221 ; 13

Carthage is a freshly founded metropolis under building, vibrant and growth,

where & # 8220 ; [ t ] he work goes on like wildfire. & # 8221 ; Aeneas & # 8220 ; wonders at [ their ] great

edifice, & # 8230 ; metropolis Gatess, and the blare of paved streets. & # 8221 ; and exclaims, & # 8220 ; Ah,

H

ow fortunate you are, whose town is already constructing! ” Furthermore, the metropolis

has great possible, with the & # 8220 ; chance of great towers & # 8221 ; 14 and marks that

& # 8220 ; [ t ] heir state would boom in wealth and war. & # 8221 ; 15 Aeneas is moved by the

Carthaginians & # 8217 ; reclamation, and & # 8220 ; foremost dared to trust for Salvation and believe

that at last his fortune was turning. & # 8221 ; But so he notices & # 8220 ; a series of frescoes

picturing the Trojan war, & # 8221 ; and calls, & # 8220 ; is there anyplace, any topographic point left on

Earth unhaunted by our sorrows? & # 8221 ; He is touched by & # 8220 ; human transience. & # 8221 ; 16

There are once more basic similarities between the two state of affairss ; both

Phaiakia and Carthage represent ideal societies to the roamers. Furthermore,

even though the civilizations are ideal, neither of them belong at that place. But once more,

the differences between the two societies illuminate the differences in

political orientation. Phaiakia is a inactive civilization, a type of fairy narrative topographic point where

everything is in perfect harmoniousness. Equally long as its citizens follow usage as

they should, it will go on to be in flawlessness. Carthage is a dynamic

civilization, one nexus in the concatenation of in turn better societies. However,

even if they have utmost civitas and do nil wrong, it is still possible

for fad to destruct it, merely like it destroyed Troy. The former is an

immortal society, bing everlastingly ; the latter is a mortal society in the

procedure of birth, and accordingly the possibility of decease.

In the Odyssey, Odysseus sits in the ashes of the fire. Ekheneos, an

senior and prophet versed in the Torahs, admonishes Alkinoos for non immediately

offering his cordial reception. Alkinoos so offers the roamer a place of award,

orders nutrient brought, and decrees the customary rites to be performed. Then

he speaks to Odysseus, is taken by him, and offers him his girl & # 8217 ; s manus in

matrimony. Everyone rests, and the following twenty-four hours is spent in celebrations.

Afterwards, Odysseus recounts his assorted rovings to the Phaiakians. Then

he is sped on his manner place. In the Aeneid, Venus sends Cupid in the signifier of

Ascanius to do Dido autumn in love with Aeneas. Aeneas so recounts two

narratives to Dido and her tribunal: the autumn of Troy and the Trojan rovings.

Meanwhile, Dido has become enamored with Aeneas, and finally Aeneas

reciprocates her love. He decides to remain in Carthage and aid with the

edifice until he is chastised by Hermes. When he so prepares to go forth,

Dido becomes enraged and so despondent. Finally, after he is gone she takes

her ain life.

Even though Odysseus is given really good intervention by a assortment of people,

he ne’er doubts for a minute that he belongs place on Ithaka. For illustration,

when he was with Calypso, he had immortality and godly company ;

furthermore, his return place would be fraught with hardship. Yet, & # 8220 ; each twenty-four hours,

[ he longed ] for place & # 8221 ; and felt his & # 8220 ; tough bosom could undergo & # 8221 ; 17 any trail.

Hermes had to castigate Calypso to allow Odysseus travel, instead than spurring the

roamer himself. On Skheria, Alkinoos would do Odysseus his & # 8220 ; son-in-law,

if [ he ] remained. A place, lands, and wealths & # 8221 ; 18 would be his every bit good. Offered

a topographic point in this ideal society, Odysseus still chooses to return place. From

the Cyclops & # 8217 ; island, where is known & # 8220 ; none but barbarian ways & # 8221 ; 19 ; to Aiolia, where

they still & # 8220 ; gave [ sisters ] to [ brothers ] to be their soft brides & # 8221 ; 20 ; to the

& # 8220 ; charming house of Circe & # 8221 ; , where there is & # 8220 ; eating and imbibing, infinitely

regaled. & # 8221 ; 21 ; Odysseus realizes that he belongs in none of these topographic points. His

rovings simply represent his unceasing ascent back to his proper topographic point, were

he ever has and ever will belong.

However, Aeneas & # 8217 ; narrative is far different. He begins with the autumn of Troy,

which was precipitated by the Trojan Horse. The Horse is portrayed as edge

fad merely like Aeolus & # 8217 ; air currents. Laocoon throws a spear into its side, which

stuck & # 8220 ; quaking & # 8221 ; and the Horse & # 8220 ; grunted at the concussion and rumbled

hollowly. & # 8221 ; 22 Soon after, the potency for force pent-up in the Horse is

released violently, and Troy is consumed in fires. Furthermore, no 1 is proof

from this same type of catastrophe. Aeneas is the pinnacle of his civilization, the

idol of forfeit and responsibility who carried his male parent out of Troy. Even he

falls prey to his human passions and corsets with Dido ; in so burying his

civitas, he relaxes his clasp on fad. Dido is so consumed in fires merely

like Troy, and her concluding words are prelude to strife between Rome and Carthage

in the hereafter.

The comparing of these scenes shows the cardinal differences between

the Greek and Roman ideals. The Greeks believed in the everlasting power of

usage to protect and continue them, and that any calamity stemmed from their

ain foolhardiness. In a sense, Odysseus brought his problems upon himself. If

he had followed usage like the Phaiakians had, he would hold remained within

the appointed range of humanity. Furthermore, in some absolute sense Odysseus

belongs at place on Ithaka, and one time there he can stay at that place indefinitely in

safety. The Romans & # 8217 ; universe was much more unsure because of the invariable

possibility for catastrophe, and believed that human being was inherently a

calamity because of this everpresent fad. Even had all the Trojans done

nil incorrect, they still would hold received the air currents sent at Juno & # 8217 ; s behest.

All they had was vulnerable, their lives, their metropoliss, and their

civilisation ; anything could be destroyed by the godless strife. Furthermore,

no affair how devout and full of civitas one is, it is ever possible for

fad to come up. Therefore, it is non surprising that the Greek and Roman heroic poems

were so different, since what the they perceived were truly two different

universes.

Bibliography

1Odyssey V, line 34

2Odyssey IX, lines 571-73

3Aeneid I, page 20

4Aeneid I, page 13 of the 1952 C. Day Lewis interlingual rendition ; all farther page

mentions are from this.

5Aeneid I, page 21

6Both quotation marks are from Aeneid I, page 14

7Odyssey VII, line 124

8Odyssey VII, line 106

9Odyssey VII, lines 138-140

10Odyssey VII, lines 77-78

11Odyssey VI, lines 210-11

12Odyssey VI, lines 215-16

13Odyssey VIII lines 617-18

14Last four quotation marks from Aeneid I, page 25

15Aeneid I, pages 25-26

16Last four quotation marks from Aeneid I, page 26

17Odyssey V, lines 229-233

18Odyssey V, lines 337-38

19Odyssey IX, line 204

20Odyssey X, line 9

21Odyssey Ten, lines 473-74

22Last two quotation marks from Aeneid II, page 36