The Roman Review:
Aeneas' Thoughts on Fate and the Gods
Q: Salve (Latin for hello) Aeneas! How are you?
Q: Salve (Latin for hello) Aeneas! How are you?
A: Eh, I could be better. My beloved city of Troy was just burned to the ground, but hey, at least I was able to establish Rome!
Q: Ah, yes, that was a fateful night. Speaking of which, how does the role of fate play in your life?
A: I feel like it plays a major role. All of my comrades and I were disguised in Greek armor, yet all my companions were killed. I survived. It just wasn't my fate to die that night. My fate was to live and lead my family and other fellow Trojans to future Rome. Unfortunately it was my wife's, Creusa's, fate to die shortly after.
Q: Sorry about that. Fate is inescapable. The gods surely know how to make fate work in their favor. What is your attitude toward the gods?
A: Well, depends on which. Pallas helped those Greeks build that stupid wooden horse, allowing them to attack my city! She also sent sea serpents to kill Laocoön and his two sons. Yeah, that wasn't very nice.
Q: Not at all. Are there any gods you're on good terms with?
A: I'm lucky to say I'm on good terms with my mother. You know, Venus. I'm glad she talked me out of killing Helen. The whole war wasn't all of her fault, just mostly. I would've also lost my honor if I killed her. I wouldn't want to stoop down to Pyrrhus' level.
Q: If you could change anything fate or a god had done, what would it be?
A: Oh, let me count the ways. Maybe, make the gods invite Eris to that wedding so we could avoid all of this! [laughs.] But, I would only truly want Creusa to still be alive. Ulysses got to keep his wife! Those Greeks! [growls.]
Q: Fate and those gods sure are powerful. How do you feel about having little to no control over your own future?
A: Eh, I don't mind that much. Sure, it would be nice to control my own destiny, but the gods know best. Even though some of the gods don't favor me, I'll play along. As an epic hero [makes heroic pose], I need to represent Roman values, like loyalty. I'll always obey the will of the gods.
Q: Wow! You sure are devoted! But, if you did have control, what would you do?
A: I would've escaped from Troy a lot earlier! [laughs.] But, I feel even with control, I would still end up doing the gods' will, leading the Trojans to what would become Rome. It must be my natural good leadership.
Q: So, do you prefer free will or fate?
A: I'm more of a fate sort of guy. It's nice to know everything is part of a master plan, not just coincidence. I had to endure all this suffering for something, right?
Q: You have all this suffering, yet all this loyalty. You seem to have a godlike power of tolerance! If you could, what kind of god would you be?
A: The god of wine! I need a drink! [laughs.]
Q: Not at all. Are there any gods you're on good terms with?
A: I'm lucky to say I'm on good terms with my mother. You know, Venus. I'm glad she talked me out of killing Helen. The whole war wasn't all of her fault, just mostly. I would've also lost my honor if I killed her. I wouldn't want to stoop down to Pyrrhus' level.
Q: If you could change anything fate or a god had done, what would it be?
A: Oh, let me count the ways. Maybe, make the gods invite Eris to that wedding so we could avoid all of this! [laughs.] But, I would only truly want Creusa to still be alive. Ulysses got to keep his wife! Those Greeks! [growls.]
Q: Fate and those gods sure are powerful. How do you feel about having little to no control over your own future?
A: Eh, I don't mind that much. Sure, it would be nice to control my own destiny, but the gods know best. Even though some of the gods don't favor me, I'll play along. As an epic hero [makes heroic pose], I need to represent Roman values, like loyalty. I'll always obey the will of the gods.
Q: Wow! You sure are devoted! But, if you did have control, what would you do?
A: I would've escaped from Troy a lot earlier! [laughs.] But, I feel even with control, I would still end up doing the gods' will, leading the Trojans to what would become Rome. It must be my natural good leadership.
Q: So, do you prefer free will or fate?
A: I'm more of a fate sort of guy. It's nice to know everything is part of a master plan, not just coincidence. I had to endure all this suffering for something, right?
Q: You have all this suffering, yet all this loyalty. You seem to have a godlike power of tolerance! If you could, what kind of god would you be?
A: The god of wine! I need a drink! [laughs.]
