Aeneas
...ook II of Virgil’s Aeneid. After witnessing Priams’ and his family’s brutal death, Aeneas catches sight of Helen, the cause of the war. He goes after Helen to kill her for the tragedies she’s caused, “My heart will teem with joy in this avenging fire, and the ashes of my kin will be appeased” (Book II, lines 769-770). Aeneas has every intention of killing Helen but is stopped by the spectral image of his mother. She reminds Aeneas of his duty to his family, “Why let such suffering goad you on to fury / Past control? Where is your thoughtfulness / For me, for us?” (Book II, lines 780-783). If Aeneas was not reminded of his responsibility to his family, nothing would have stopped him from slaying Helen. Thus, strong violent emotions are not out of character for Aeneas. Aeneas holds the father-son relationship in high regard. He is incited to kill Helen after he sees Pilates murdered in front of his father, Priam. He refrains from killing Helen when he remembers that he needs to find and protect his family, namely his father and son. Aeneas says to his Anchises, “Did you suppose, my father, / That I could tear myself away and leave you?” (Book II, lines 857-858). As discussed in class, Anchises symbolizes the past while Iulu...