Both the Odyssey and the Aeneid portion some similarities as heroic poems ; both describe 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. Grecian civilization and literature had a great ascendant influence over Roman life. hence. the influence of manner and the narratives written by Virgil adopted many of the old Grecian ways. However. Virgil did non copy. he gave a new significance to the plants that he borrowed and added his ain ideas and sentiments that expressed and explained Roman life to the remainder of the universe.
To exemplify. a common thought is woven into the Odyssey. usage. Customss were handed down by the Gods. and were meant to maintain work forces safe by giving them civilisation. When work forces flaunted their imposts 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. 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 is washed up on shore 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.
However. in the past Odysseus wounded Polyphemos and in foolhardy wantonness questioned the power of the Gods. while he was flying from the Cyclops. For this insult. Poseidon decided to do Odysseus’ journey place a long and hard one. The God of the sea sends a storm his manner but Odysseus survives with a gift and counsel. After Poseidon departs. he eventually reaches the shore with Athena’s aid. The gap scenes in the Aeneid corresponds to Homer’s sequence. Aeneas and the Trojans are on their ships. heading to carry through their ends after much trouble. However. Juno is worried that the Trojans’ posterities will finally excel the Greeks. so she convinces Aeolus to let go of to some air currents to destruct them. Aeolus releases them by forcing his lance at the wing of the mountain. about lay waste toing the Trojans. Much to the help of Aeneas. 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 ( shows how the Gods played a big portion in both of their civilizations ) . 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 1. 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 home much Oklahoman with much less parturiency. The Trojans are merely capable to catastrophe. for no ground whatsoever. There are once more basic similarities between the two state of affairss ; both Phaiakia and Carthage represent ideal societies to the roamers. 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.
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. 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. His rovings simply represent his unceasing ascent back to his proper topographic point. were he ever has and ever will belong.
However. Aeneas’ narrative is far different. He begins with the autumn of Troy. which was precipitated by the Trojan Horse. Aeneas is the pinnacle of his civilization. the idol of forfeit and responsibility who carried his male parent out of Troy. Even he falls quarry to his human passions and corsets with Dido. Dido is so consumed in flames 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. The Romans’ universe was much more unsure because of the changeless possibility for catastrophe. and believed that human being was inherently a calamity. Even had all the Trojans done nil incorrect. they still would hold received the air currents sent at Juno’s want. All they had was vulnerable. their lives. their metropoliss. and their civilisation ; anything could be destroyed by the godless strife. 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.
