Monday, February 18, 2013

Ultimate Victory and Terrible Defeat

            In a war there are two outcomes: victory or defeat. Both themes were present in Aeneid. These two elements of war could bring forth happiness or despair.
             The unfortunate Trojans felt terrible loss at first but as the story goes on, they were excelling and improving. Their hearts were filled with hope as Aphrodite guided them. They crushed enemies and the lost comrades. Aeneas lost his father and his wife. He also lost Dido his sweetheart because she killed herself. Both sides of the war felt victory and defeat. The Latins killed most of the officers of the Trojans even the mighty Pallas. With Turnus as their commander, the Latins set forth to battle the Trojans and turned the tides of war. And with Aeneas as their leader, the Trojans showed great desperation to win. It is true that after defeat there always comes the ultimate victory. The Trojans are good examples of stillness and perseverance.

" All wars are civil wars, because all men are brothers" - Francois Fenelon (1651 - 1715)
           

Fall of Troy

       As the Troy fell I could still hear the cries of despair and sorrow of Aeneas' troops. At first I was in favor with the Greeks but as I realized that it was truly Paris who caused the fall of Troy by foolishly stealing Helen from the Greeks, I felt sympathy for the Trojans.
      As Aeneas was leaving Troy, his home, my heart was crying out for them. Such misfortune should not befall these innocent, glorious people. I'm sure that the people listening to Aeneas at that time when he tells the series of unfortunate events that happened to them they were feeling sympathy,too.
      To pursue someone's destiny is hard if it was against someone's will. But for the sake of his dwelling place and their destroyed sanctuary, Aeneas still went on and flowed with the waves.