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To what extent does Virgil glorify war in Aeneid Book 10? (War is glorious…
To what extent does Virgil glorify war in Aeneid Book 10?
PALLAS AND LAUSUS: Their deaths are too tragic to be glorious. Virgil is perhaps commenting on the loss of innocence in war and its brutality. War separates people.
There are strong parallels between Pallas and Lausus, in that they are "not much different in age" and both "distinguished in thier appearance," along with both being from noble families and are both tragically fighting for the approval of their fathers. These parallels create a huge amount of pathos, and would suggest that Virgil is not glorifying war but instead highlighting how it creates enemies. Although these boys are so similar, they are forced to loathe each other because of a trivial dispute between two men.
The tragic deaths of Larides and Thymber, a set pf twins who were both a "blessing and confusion" to their parents, yet Pallas created a "harsh difference" between them through decapitating Larides andremoving Thymber's right and. Through detailing to the audience how the twins were inseperable, whilst also giving details of how loved they were by their parents, Virgil is demonstrating the loss of innocence within war.
Pallas' death- He left on the same day of war that he came in on.
The death of Lichas- "His mother was already dead when Lichas was cut from her womb"
War is glorious. Book 10 serves as the beginning of Roman counterpart of the Iliadic war, where fighting on behalf of one's fatherland is unambiguously glorious, a concept which retained its relevance in Virgil's day, for loyalty to one's fatherland was a ke Augustan value.
Pallas leaving "huge piles of Rutulian dead"
Jupiter saying to Hercules: "The task of the brave man is to enlarge his fame by his actions"
Mezentius- "There is no sin in killing"
Pallas- "I shall win rich renown today, either for stripping the corpse of the leader of my country's enemies, or else for a glorious death."
Virgil- "O Pallas, a great grief and a great glory are coming home to your father!"- Pallas' death is actually heroic and is glorified by Virgil himself. Killing and war are undeniably heroic.
War is not glorified- it is chaotic. There are numerous accidental deaths. Death of Lucargus. He is accidentally killed by Aeneas who was meant to kill his brother, Liger. INNOCENT VICTIMS OF WAR.
However, it can also be argued that Virgil does indeed glorify war, as shown through the exhibition of aristeia and a possible shift in character for the good, particularly in Mezentius.
War allows for a reconciliation between Mezentius and his fate.
Transformation of characters in war, whereby Virgil presents the idea that war brings out the worst in particular characters, particularly Aeneas. War seems to compel Aeneas to act savagely and without care.
He becomes the embodiment of furor. Compared to "Aegeaon" who is a monster with "fifty arms and breasts" who streamed out "fire."
Degeneracy of Aeneas' piety.
Aeneas' killing of Magus- he is a supplicant.
Killing of Mezentius- taunting him after Lausus' death.
Turnus' gloating over Pallas' body and mocking of Evander- NOT GLORIFYING WAR. War fuels hubris: "This was the spoil in which Turnus now exalted and he gloried in the taking of it. The mind of man has no knowledge of what Fate holds in store, and observes no limit when Fortune raises him up. The time will come when Turnus will gladly pay and pay richly, to see Pallas alive and unharmed."