Aeneid Modern Scholarship

West

• Revenge is a part of war, as Augustus knew
• [Aeneas] Hated the waste and ugliness of it [war]
• Rowdy family… jealous wife and unruly daughter
• Creusa has no part to play in the great future that lies before him
• Aeneas loved Dido
• Divine machinery is an obsolete literary device
• [Aen in Bk 4] Not a demolition of his character
• Steadfast maturity of Aeneas is thus shown by means of contrast with the wildness of Turnus

Jenkyns

• Virgil has intended to portray Aeneas as imperfect
• Burden of destiny imposed on him
• End on an act of passion 
• Through excess of emotion not lack of it

Williams

• Aeneas fights because he must, in bitter fulfilment of duty
• Dido is brushed aside and trampled on by its requirements
• Roman Destiny could not in fact be achieved without great sacrifice, suffering and devotion
• Glorify…