their city and cause them further pain. To do this she turns Amata, the wife of Latimus, against the arranged marriage to Aeneas. The goddess cast a snake deep in Amata's secret breast ... its first infection, penetrating with damn poison, has gripped her senses and entwined her bones in fire." (VI.458-470) Turnus furious at the idea of losing Lavinia and having to bow down to a Trojan king, gathers together his army for war. Virgil uses Turnus because he is very much like Aeneas in the sense that they are both respected leaders and heroes. Virgil is creating one of the greatest tests Aeneas has had to face in order to prove to the reader, if he succeeds, that he is an outstanding and interesting character. Heroism is one last point that Virgil uses to show the how crucial and interesting Aeneas is in the novel. Jupiter is angered by the fighting between Aeneas and Turnus forces and calls for a counsel of the gods to discuss the problem of war. He is disappointed in the other gods, particularly Juno for going against his wishes of peace and for quarrelling amongst each other. In the conclusion of the counsel Jupiter decides that no god shall help either side "What each man does will shape his trial and fortune. For Jupiter is King of all alike; the Fates will find their way." (X, 160-162) Virgil clearly shows that the gods will play no further role in the outcome of the battle to prove the human heroics of Aeneas. Without the help of the gods, Virgil illustrates Aeneas true passion and will to succeed using his own natural strengths. Virgil gives Aeneas god like power in battle bringing enemies to there knees begging to be spared, to show that Aeneas has the power of a god, thus defeating any doubts that the reader has of a boring character. When it is argued that Aeneas was just handed everything by the gods, the fact that not all of the gods were in support of him is often overlooked. Although many gods steer Aeneas toward his d...
