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Would a roman audience enjoy the Aeneid Book 7? (20)
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Jess CaneWould a roman audience enjoy the Aeneid Book 7? (20)
Overall, I believe the extent to which a roman audience would have enjoyed the Aeneid
Book 7 is dependent on the way in which they viewed it. The poem was written by Virgil as a
form of entertainment thus, if the audience recognised it they would have likely been able
to enjoy it. However, the book portrays the breaking of many Roman values and the fate of
Rome at risk, the Roman people may have found this to be alarming and thus not enjoyed it
to the same extent.
Firstly, it could be said the Roman audience would have enjoyed the Aeneid due to it’s
entertaining nature through the use of immortals. Throughout book 7 it could be said that
the drivers of the plot are immortals. Father Latinus is driven to refuse Turnus from
marrying his daughter after recognising portents from the gods which showed they forbade
it. Virgil also shows a portent of a cloud of bees around the tree that the city was built
around which shows a stranger will arrive with an army and gain power over the citadel and
then a portent of Lavinia’s hair catching on fire which represented that her future would be
bright but a great war will come over her people. These portents create suspense as it
leaves the audience waiting to see if they’re true. When Aeneas’ army arrive and later a war
begins between them and the Italians, the audience is able to see the truthful nature of the
portents. This would likely be exciting but also enjoyable as they would feel a relief of
suspense as they find out the prophecies where true. Additionally, the gods are shown to
catalyse the war as after seeing that the Trojans were still thriving Juno was enraged and
called upon Allecto to create chaos among the mortals. Allecto is shown to be a menacing
fury who’s so evil that even her own father hates her, the audience would likely have been
scared of her but also thrilled. The portrayal of these characters would likely bring
excitement as they contrast the mortal characters who have no super natural powers and
are unable to change their own destiny with all powerful beings who could easily put rage
into the mortals and change their actions. Therefore, the use of immortals in book 7 would
have been entertaining to a roman audience as it is not something they would have been
used to seeing thus, evoking a sense of excitement. Moreover, it could be argued the
Roman audience would have enjoyed the descriptive nature of the book. Throughout book 7
Virgil uses very expressive language, for example, the battle between the Trojans and
Italians is ‘like the sea whitening at the first breath of wind and slowly stirring itself, raising
its waves higher and higher’. The use of a simile here creates a vivid image of battle being
stirred up between the opposing armies. The reference to the sea is something that the
audience would be familiar with meaning they would be able to successfully imagine the
scene. Additionally, the use of a simile alludes to Homeric similes that the audience would
have been aware of thus making this an exciting link between this poem and other Homeric
poems. Therefore, it is likely a roman audience would likely have enjoyed how immersive
the book is as Virgil builds up a strong image that they would be able to relate to and thus
be entertained.
Conversely, it could be said that the audience would not have enjoyed the non traditional
nature of the book, especially in regard to values. Firstly, throughout the book, as a result of
Allecto’s actions, rage is evoked in Amata and Turnus. Turnus is seen to have a ‘lust for
battle’ after Allecto poisoned him and furor is ignited in him. He is seen to go into a frenzy
and summons his men encouraging them to fight. Virgil portrays Turnus to have little
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