Latinus has a lot to deal with here in book 7 - his wife wants their daughter, Lavinia, to marry Turnus, the omens and the gods tell him to give his daughter to a foreigner and then war breaks out in his land.
Based upon how he is described in 7.46-107 (pp.142-144 top) and 7.585-600 (pp. 157-158), how would you evaluate Latinus' leadership skills? What are his strengths and weaknesses? Do you think pietas controls his decision making or furor? How does the description of Latinus as a boulder in a storm indicate aspects of his leadership? How does he differ as a leader, based upon this simile, from Aeneas as a leader in the oak tree simile 4.438-449 (pp. 81 bottom - 82) ?
Vergil and the Muses
2nd Century Carthaginian Mosaic (lonestar.texas.net/~robison/visual_trivia.html)
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Based upon how Latinus is described I believe that he is a very strong, sturdy leader who listens very intently to the g-ds' requests and honors them. In the beginning of book seven he finds himself in a dilemma with his wife, Amata, for she wants their daughter Lavinia to marry Turnus while Latinus understands that she cannot marry Turnus because she is destined to marry a foreigner, Aeneas. Latinus remains resolute, not letting his wife sway him. This demonstrates his good, assertive leadership skills. Moreover, his stern, resolute way of ruling symbolizes his altogether strong leadership skills. Although his weakness of leadership may arguably be expressed through Latinus locking himself in his castle while his people are fighting a battle, he is acting as a leader should, letting the people fight, and figure out the problem that they caused themselves. In turn, Latinus is ultimately acting with pietas.
The description of Latinus as a boulder in a storm later in book seven, further supports the fact that he is a resolute leader, guided by great pietas. This description of Latinus further separates himself from Aeneas, in terms of how he is as a leader, because in storms Aeneas withers and gives in as illustrated by the falling of the oak tree's leaves falling. However, Latinus does not wither or give in when there is a storm or problem in his own kingdom because he is described as remaining like a rock in a storm. Therefore, Latinus is ultimately a stronger leader than Aeneas in terms of acting with more pietas than furor, and having more strengths than weaknesses in his leadership style.
Latinus has very good leadership skills. He is always possessed by pietas, and doesn't seem to ever give in to furor. Latinus strictly obeys the will of the gods. He does not doubt them or question them. Although his wife, Amata tries to convince him to let Lavinia marry Turnus, he is not swayed. Also, in book 7 lines 46-107, Vergil writes that Latinus had ruled for a long time, and that these years had been peaceful. This shows that he is a good, resourceful leader and does not allow his emotions to get the best of him
Very thorough Jesse. I do think that he should have came out of his castle and shown some pietas by mediating the dispute. This, in my mind would have made him a better leader. On the other hand, he does show many examples of Pietas, you have mentioned them, showing that he is STILL developing as a leader. He shares some parallels with Aeneas. Latinus is a king, Aeneas will be one. Latinus and Aeneas are both still developing as leaders. Latinus is hurting his wife to fulfill the fates, Aeneas has had to hurt Dido in order to allow his fate to progress. If you had added these things your comments would be virtually complete.
By seeing Latinus leadership skills we can see how he is a very strong, good leader. We can see how his pietas is developed and that he has developed as a leader himself. Because Latinus has been a leader for such a long time we can see that he has time to develop. Like Latinus, Aeneas is developing as well. Because Latinus has had more experience than Aeneas he has developed more leadership whereas Aeneas has given into furor many times. Although he has given into furor Aeneas has realized his destiny and is willing to develop. We can use Latinus leaderhship as a source to compare Aeneas leadership as well.
Due to how Latinus is described in book 7, I would venture to say that he is a strong experienced leader. His wife puts presure on him and is angry with him after he makes his decision to let his daughter marry Aeneas but he shows his strength by not wavering, which is why I think it is very appropriate he is compared to a boulder in comparrison to Aeneas being an oak tree. I think Vergil is trying to point out that the tree can still waver some, but the boulder will not move, and this will be the final result of Aeneas character development. Also it is important to point out that Latinus has pietas toward the gods and he trusts Aeneas destiny. Vergil is conveying the message that when Aeneas has this much pietas in his own destiny, then he will be a boulder.
Latinus' leadership skills prove to be strong in Book 7. Although he appears stubborn, not listening to his wife, it is only because he is listening to the gods. He shows pietas because he does not let his wife tell him what decision to make, instead he trusts the gods. The boulder describes him perfectly because he cannot be swayed or moved, and he sticks with his decision. He differs from Aeneas because as stated in the text, Aeneas moves with the storm, he becomes scared and anxious, but Latinus is like a boulder, he stays upright and brave.
Latinus is without a doubt a strong, decisive leader that obeys the gods. As the gods command, he listens and without but's he gives his daughter to Aeneas. His comparison is similar to the comparison of Aeneas earlier in the book due to the fact that both comparisons illustrate a strong leader. However, the main difference is that Aeneas is a strong leader in the making. However, Latinus is a well- developed leader with a complete pietas.
I think Latinus shows a lot of pietas because he accepts the gods' decisions as inevitable and embraces these decisions. Latinus's leaderships skills are good because he realizes he is subordinate to the gods, cannot change his fate, and needs to make the best of the gods' decisions. He, however, needs to understand that not everyone is going to agree with him. I.e. he will encounter oppoisiton (in the form of war sometimes) from people who don't accept the Trojans, etc.
The description of Latinus as a boulder shows that he is a steadfast leader and possibly that he only sees things one way. (like a boulder, he doesn't shift in his perspective and can't see anyone else's perspective). There are people attacking Latinus, while Aeneas is more contending against his own fate and against himself.
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