221; Aeneas now must make a decision, does he stay with Dido, the woman he loves, or does he continue his journey to found Rome? Even though Aeneas “longs to soften, soothe [Dido’s] sorrow” (Aeneid, 4:540) because he cares for her, “pious Aeneas carries out the gods’/instructions” (Aeneid, 4:544-545). Pietas is love for Gods and putting aside your own heart to comply with the will of Gods. Therefore, Aeneas gives up Dido and instead chooses Rome and its glorious future. He is being dutiful by following the words of Mercury, who in turn represents Jove, God of Olympus. Virgil clearly intends this to be seen as a commendable trait. In addition, Aeneas is explicitly referred to as “pious” within the text. This description of Aeneas is appropriate, because by choosing the Gods over Dido, he has now become worthy of the term piety. Virgil is attempting to make a distinction between Aeneas and the other characters of the Aeneid. While other’s may indulge their anger, Aeneas has control over his emotions. One different point of view that can be presented against Aeneas’s piety is his killing in the war against the Latins. Aeneas kills many of Turnus’ men in the course of the battle. However, Aeneas, in his battle with Lausus, feels compassion for the man he has beaten. “Poor boy, for such an act what can the pious/ Aeneas give to match so bright a nature?/ Keep as your own the arms that made you glad;/ and to the shades and ashes of your parents I give you back-” (Aeneid, 10:1132-1136). Aeneas has mortally wounded the man, but he still shows compassion towards him. Instead of taking Lausus’s weapons, Aeneas allows him to keep them, and he gives the man his blessing. For this reason, Aeneas displays piety, even when he takes the life of a man. In contrast to pious Aeneas, Juno, Goddess of marriage, is someone who is overtaken by her own anger. She does not want ...
