This paper examines the appropriateness of the ending of Virgil’s Aeneid as compared to the body of the work.
This paper examines Book XII of Virgil’s “Aeneid” and its appropriateness to the rest of the work. While the first eleven books of Virgil’s work seem to focus on Aeneas’s pious nature, Book XII shows readers a different side to his character and appears to be completely contradictory to the earlier books. However, the thesis of this paper argues that Book XII is appropriate to the rest of the “Aeneid” and forces readers to understand that Virgil uses this last book of his work to dispel the belief that Aeneas relies only on the decrees of fate from the gods to make his decisions.
“Although I understand that Book XII of Virgil’s Aeneid has been the subject of much scholarly debate throughout history, I believe that the ending of the poem is quite appropriate, especially when considering the events that unfold throughout the first eleven books. While some may argue that Book XII is simply a culmination of Aeneas pious submission to the decrees of fate, I will attempt to demonstrate that, on the contrary, Aeneas faith in his mission to found a new city for his people leads to a defining choice that demonstrates his leadership abilities to those whom he intends to rule.”