Essay
Was Dido's death in the Aeneid her own responsibility?
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A* grade answer written in timed conditions - perfect for Classics A-level and anyone reading Virgil's aeneid
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“Dido’s death is the responsibility of her, and her alone.” To what extent do you agree?Although it is Dido’s choice to die, she is not fully to blame. It is mainly a result of the gods
(particularly Venus and Cupid) that she chooses to commit suicide. However other
characters also bear some responsibility such as Anna and Aeneas.
While Dido committed the ultimate action that resulted in her death, the probability
that she would’ve committed suicide without other driving factors is very unlikely. It was
never her fate to die. This is made clear by Virgil as when she throws herself onto the
pyre, she suffers a long death due to the underworld not expecting her. One could
blame her as it was her own fault that she neglected her reputation and let the rumours
be believed. Before Aeneas had arrived, other kings had proposed to Dido however they
accepted her denying them as she claimed to never love again after the loss of her
deceased husband. However, when they found out that Dido has let Aeneas into her life,
it infuriates them as they believe that they had been lied to. This gives Carthage very
strong enemies. Dido is fully aware that she should not sleep with Aeneas as Virgil writes
that she calls it marriage to ‘cover her guilt’. Due to her infatuation with Aeneas she
neglects Carthage as building ceases, this leads to her own Tyrians turning against her.
These are all problems that she had control over and she also blames them for her death
as she claims the only hope is to ‘reach the stars’. Nonetheless, Cupid’s arrow may have
diminished her will-power to make the right choices which lessens her responsibility.
In Dido’s eyes, Aeneas is fully to blame for her death. This is because he destroyed her
reputation and then left her. Before Aeneas she was described by Virgil as perfect;
respected by her people, a great leader and intelligent. On the one hand, one can blame
him for sleeping with Dido as he knew he had to leave eventually to found Rome and
that this would’ve destroyed Dido’s reputation. On the other hand, one can cannot put
all the blame on him for sleeping with Dido as she also agreed to it despite not being
legally married and Aeneas seemed to have have forgotten about Rome due to falling in
love with Dido. He helped to build Carthage and began to wear foreign clothes (like the
cloak Dido gifted him) which proves that he was content to stay there. When he informs
his crew that they are going to leave Carthage, they are all delighted. This shows that
Aeneas had been ignoring others opinion because he wanted to stay. If Aeneas had
forgotten about his destiny to found Rome, then he cannot be blamed for his
relationship with Dido as he had good intentions. Aeneas cannot be blamed because he
had no real choice other than to go to Rome. He is meant to be a character with roman
values, therefore Virgil had to have Aeneas chose Rome (and the best for his son)
instead of staying with Dido.
Aeneas is not to blame due to the theory that Dido would not have fallen in love so
intensely if it were not for Cupid’s arrow. Once Dido was struck by his arrow, she had no
choice but to love Aeneas forever. If it weren’t for this factor, perhaps Dido would’ve
never slept with him (and consequently ruined her reputation) and would’ve found it
easier to accept him leaving. However, contrary to this theory, Virgil hints that Dido has
always had unhealthy relationships. It is clear that Dido struggles to move on from her
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