Aeneas's Justification In Killing Turnus
Patrick Brezinsky
English 102
Prof Marciano
February 22, 2021
AENEAS'S JUSTIFICATION IN KILLING TURNUS.
Virgil's epic poem The Aeneid, illustrates a brave hero Aeneas, along his journey to establish Rome. Juno, a goddess who harbors a dislike for the Trojans, makes Aeneas's journey difficult. Despite all the hardships she puts Aeneas through, he arrives in Italy. However, she then interferes with fate once again by starting a war between the Trojans and the native people. Among the native people is Turnus, a vicious and bloodthirsty warrior, who also challenges Aeneas. However, in the final lines of the epic, Aeneas defeats Turnus, slaughtering him. Many have disputed this ...
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in killing him so that he could avenge his people and his ally.
First, Aeneas is justified in killing Turnus, since Turnus had succumbed to his passions, particularly his anger, causing him to fight viciously and mercilessly. Virgil is constantly comparing Turnus to a vicious wild animal like a lion or a wild wolf. The epic states, "his[Turnus] passion rose, hot and unquenchable./ As in the African hinterland a lion,/ Hit in the chest by hunters, badly hurt." He allows his emotions to rule him, causing him to be drunken with hatred of Aeneas and the Trojans. His emotions are always out of control, which is seen to drive him to rage and viciousness, particularly when he kills Pallas. As Turnus is hurling his spear at Pallas, he calls out, "Watch this, and see if my spearhead has not / More penetrating power" (10.670-671). Boasting, and angry, Turnus looms over the dead body of Pallas, and "Gloried in his winning" (10.700). Therefore, since Turnus allows his passions to rule ...
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"Aeneas's Justification In Killing Turnus." Essayworld.com. April 11, 2021. Accessed April 25, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Aeneass-Justification-In-Killing-Turnus/107675.
"Aeneas's Justification In Killing Turnus." Essayworld.com. April 11, 2021. Accessed April 25, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Aeneass-Justification-In-Killing-Turnus/107675.
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