- How does Vergil combine elements of the hunt scene in book 1.180-195 (p. 8) and the wounded doe simile from book 4.68-73 (p.71) in the scene in book 7.475-540 (pp. 154-156)?
- What is the result of the hunt here in book 7?
- Why do you suppose that Vergil has Aeneas absent from this scene in book 7? What inference can you draw from him not being the hunter? How is this difference from his "hunting" in books 1 and 4?
Vergil and the Muses
2nd Century Carthaginian Mosaic (lonestar.texas.net/~robison/visual_trivia.html)
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Book 7 - A hunting we will go . . !
Hunting is a repeated theme in the Aeneid. In book 1 Aeneas hunts when he first reaches Carthage and this idea of Aeneas as a hunter is continued in book 4. You will recall our conversation in book 4 about who was the hunter, Dido or Aeneas.
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Throughout the Aeneid, hunting has been a trope. In book 7 lines 475-540, Ascanius Aeneas' son is hunting game near the shore. The goddess Allecto interferes with the hunting by having Ascanius' hounds pick up the scent of Tyhus' deer. Tyrhus is the royal herdsman of the Rultulians. Allecto interferes into Trojan affairs just like Cupid did back in Carthage. Ascanius pierces the favorite deer of Tyrhus, and it struggles to return home: "Fleeing to the home it knew so well, the wounded stag came into its pen moaning, and stood there bleeding and filling the house with its cries of anguish" (pg 155 lines 500-503). The deer dying is similar to how Dido died by being pierced by Aeneas' love. Therefore, the wounded deer simile in book 4 foreshadows Ascanius' actions. Aeneas' actions in book 1 of killing seven deer symbolized chaotic destruction to Carthage. Thus, Ascanius killing the deer foreshadows destruction of a city. I believe that Aeneas is not present during the hunt episode f book 7 because it shows the importance of Aeneas to be a great leader. Since Aeneas is not present, the Trojans encounter conflicts. For example, "old Galaesus,...died when he stepped between the army to make peace. He was the justest man in the broad fields of Ausonia in these far days and the richest" (pg 156 lines 537-539). If Aeneas was present he may have been able to stop the battle with just a glance infused with pietas as Neptune calms the sea in the statesman simile in book 1. Aeneas is not the hunter, so he is not to blame for starting a war. In book 1 and 4 Aeneas is the instigator who causes destruction by his actions of furor. In book 7, Aeneas is not at fault for the outcome of war.
The idea of hunting has been a major theme in The Aeneid, for is present in many of the Books. In Book 7, Ascanius is hunting near the coast of Italy, when he spots sacred animal. Misguided by his hounds, who picked up the scent of the Tyhus deer, Ascanius clips the deer, and it staggers back all the way home. Ascanius was misguided because Allecto fooled Ascanius' dogs. This is kind of how Aeneas shot down Dido's love for himself. Also, similar to how Aeneas killed seven stags in Book 1, portrays that there will be chaos once again. The result of the hunt is that the deer goes back home, and shows the king his/her wound, which naturalyl stirs the soul of the king. I think Virgil has Aeneas absent during this scene because he wanted to show the reader that Aeneas is extremely important to the Trojans success and well being. Also, he might have wanted the reader to see the future Trojan leader in action. We can infer that Aeneas is maturing and developing pietas, by not going out hunting. I really do not see too much of a difference from his "hunting" here in book 7 other than it is some other than Aeneas hunting. Both actions will eventually cause chaos in the end.
All throughout the Aenied Virgil has continuing themes and one of these is hunting. I book 7 the hunting involves Aeneas' son, Ascanius, who has his path manipulated by a god/goddess, shooting the beloved dear of the Rutulian Tyrhus. This has direct corolation to the wounded doe simile in book 4 because just like hunter accidentally shooting the doe, Ascanius has been shot an animal he did no intend to, and causes trouble, just like Aeneas did with Dido. Also the act of hunting simply foreshadows destruction of a city as it has throughout the poem. The result of the hunt in book 7 is that the dear returns to Tyrhus in very bad condition and terrably wounded and Tyrhus is upset, showing a battle soon to come. It is very interesting that Aeneas is absent in book 7 but i think Vergil is trying to show the reader somehting. I think Virgil is showing Ascanius making a mistake to make it clear that people are not born leaders, but develop into them. Aeneas started wit many flaws, such as accidentally cause Dido to fall in love with him, and Ascanius has now done something very similar. Vergil is showing that just like his father, Ascanius will need to have pietas too.
In the three hunting scenes prior to book 7 (stags on the shore, the bee simile, and Aeneas causing Dido to lose all leadership sense and control in book 4) Aeneas has been the 'out-of-place instigator of all the chaos. In book one we see Aeneas cause chaos on the shore out of a peaceful feeding and in book four, even though Aeneas knows that he will not be able to settle down his men in Carthage, he takes advantage of Queen Dido and causes her and Carthage to spiral down into ruin after being such a structured, peaceful, and organized society. Throughout the Aenied, Aeneas has been making excuses for his blunders as a leader by claiming that he is still greatly affected by what happened back at Troy. Now, it seems that Aeneas is starting to greatly develop as a leader and take responsibility for the people he leads. Great leaders take responsibility for the actions of their men even if they themselves had nothing to do with it. This will be the greatest test for the Trojan leader. It is now time for Aeneas to show how much he has developed as a leader and fix the problem that one of his men (actually his son) created. This much parallels the Trojan War. If anything this is an opportunity for Aeneas to redeem himself for not 'not being able to save Troy' as he feels.
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