I ask the questions differently: why is Dido represented in Book I as a strong leader among men and through most of Book IV as a lovesick woman who can't get over being abandoned by Aeneas? The following verses (494-508) interest me intensely "regina ad templus, forma pulcherrima Dido,/incessit, magna iuvenum stipante caterva./ ....talis erat Dido, talem se laeta ferebat/ per medios, instans operi regnisque futuris./ tum foribus divae, media testudine templi,/ saepta armis solioque alte subnixa resedit./ iura dabat legesque viris, operumque laborem/ partibus aequabat iustis aut sorte trahebat." In contrast to her unfulfilled desires in Book IV, these verses are so totally opposed to her character. Two very different extremes.
The questions are hard to answer. I've been pursuing them from the perspective of the ancient view of women. I don't think we can look at Dido qua Dido. We need to explore her many antecedents and the construction of women in general in the five hundred years before. In addition we have the political reasons which are put forth for Virgil's creation of her and that she might be a foil for Cleopatra. No easy answers. Did Dido consider herself married to Aeneas? Was she a cheap thrill? The texts are unclear. Certainly Dido may have considered herself married based on the on the scene in the cave during the rainstorm. Is that the important question, however? . I go back to the role of the gods in Dido's downfall. In Book I.657 ff. Venus schemes to send Cupid in place of Ascanius so that he can make her forget her commitment to Sychaeus. That strategy is to ensure that Dido helps the Trojans. In Book IV.90 ff. Juno, knowing how far gone with love Dido is, suggests to Venus that they conspire together to "potius pacem aeternam pactosque hymenaeos/ exercemus?" (99-100) Venus knows she can't trust Juno (105) but she suggests to the latter that she approach Jupiter "sed fatis incerta feror, si Iuppiter nuam/ esse velit Tyriis urbem Troiaque profectis/ miscerive probet populos aut foedera iungi." (110-112). I don't remember there being a follow up with Jupiter on that score. Correct me if I'm wrong. In 117 ff. Juno plans the seduction of Dido in the cave during the rainstorm; Venus agrees. How much is in the power of Dido herself? As far as Aeneas goes, he impresses me as a sad, depressed man doing his duty, knowing he must go to Italy. He temporarily enjoys the liaison, but I don't think he considers Dido a cheap fling. I think he is a man whom the fates, destiny, call it what you will, holds in its hands. So neither really has a choice. And perhaps that is what Virgil is saying. That one must do one's duty no matter what. The question of Dido, of course, remains very problematic. It's too simple to say that Virgil picked Dido because she represented Carthage, Rome's old enemy; he certainly converted whatever is known about the historical Dido to someone whose myth is now accepted as fact. These "answers" only raise new questions. How we choose to go about the task of finding evidence to support what we think are the answers depends on our training and outlook. I have not yet looked at Catullus' Ariadne in relation to Dido. I had never considered her as a possibility and need to think more on that. I do think Apollonius' Medea is one of the antecedents that has to be considered in understanding Dido and that there is a similarity between her rage and Dido's. I can't yet give you chapter and verse, however. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- To leave the Mantovano mailing list at any time, do NOT hit reply. You will just prove to everyone that you can't read directions. Instead, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message "unsubscribe mantovano" in the body.
