Female’s Impact on Politics in The Aeneid by Virgil

In the opening books of the Aeneid, Virgil presents many different characters that play important roles and have influences on Aeneas’s journey. This includes not only mortal men and women, but also Gods and Goddesses. Throughout the plot, Virgil constantly addresses political issues through the actions of the characters. Of these characters, the female figures are often portrayed in a negative way. For example, they tend to act emotionally and in a way contrary to knowledge. This implies that women’s participation in politics may lead to negative consequences. Virgil shows women’s negative impact on politics by examining their unfavorable characteristics, such as irrationality, impulsive behaviors, and the selfish desires that often†¦show more content†¦Although Juno already knows about Aeneas’s fate and that it is determined for him to find Rome regardless of anyone’s involvement, she still continues with her childish actions and irration ally tries to stop his fate even though she knows she cannot change the end result. For example, she sends the goddess Iris to stir up discontent among the Trojan women, who are tired of traveling and would like to settle permanently in Drepanum because ‘’her old resentment still unsatisfied’’(Book V, line 801-802). By constantly delaying the Trojans’ journey, she hopes that they will not to be able to get to their destination. Virgil portrays Juno as an impulsive, fickle, and selfish character who acts irrationally and by her selfish desires. She acts contrary to her knowledge and takes her grudge against Troy upon Aeneas. By displaying her negative characteristics, Virgil tells the audience that women should not be involved in politics because they act emotionally and see their own desires as priorities. A leader who acts impulsively and does not care about the consequences of his or her actions can have a tremendously negative effect on the nati on. Similarly, Goddess Venus, who is also the mother of Aeneas, behaves just like Juno. Although her actions are all intended to aid Aeneas and his journey, she does not think rationally.