as is the first character in Western literature who actuallychanges and develops. His struggles help him discover who he is and what he thinks isimportant.If I had to name one quality that defines Aeneas throughout his journey, it is hisdevotion to duty, a quality that the Romans called pietas or piety. This quality keeps himgoing even when he would rather forget about his fate. Ultimately, this same qualitymakes him accept, even welcome, that fate. Because, when Aeneas finally realizes that allhis efforts will make the glorious Roman Empire possible, his love of his family and hiscountry are fulfilled. The result is that the Aeneas we see at the end of the Aeneid isdetermined, sure of himself, and confident that he knows what is right. He has become agreat leader who is able to impose order on people who display more selfish and unrulyemotions.Odysseus, as the classic definition of his name suggests, is truly and individual whocauses great trouble. Throughout the Odyssey, there are many direct and indirectcircumstances in which Odysseus wreaks havoc upon others. He leaves Troy, fights atthe island of Ismaros, and witnesses the sleepy life of the Lotos Eaters. He blinds and thentricks the one-eyed cannibal, Cyclopes, the son of Poseidon. Eventually, he even buriesElpenor, one of his crew members who was killed during all this trouble. Never does hebegin nor end with a lack of self confidence anywhere close to the one exhibited byAeneas at the commencement of his journey.After his first stage of havoc, Odysseus resists the song of the Seirenes, and sailsbetween the whirlpool and the cliff, personified by the names of Skylla and Kharybdis. But his men make the mistake of eating the forbidden cattle of the sun god, Helios. SoZeus wrecks Odysseus ship, drowning all of his men. Odysseus manages to surviveSkylla and Kharybdis again, and washes up at Ogygia Island where he stays eight yearswith Kalypso. After all that, he is sti...
