For the Aeneid, Book IV: The tragedy here lies in the conflict between personal desire and civic duty. What metaphor does Virgil use to underscore the power of civic duty and responsibility to overcome the demands of human love? What does Dido do that demonstrates the opposite? How, for Virgil, do these alternatives seem to be driven by gender?

What will be an ideal response?

Throughout this reading, the great battle of Troy told in the Iliad is the metaphor for Aeneas and Dido and the power of civic duty and the demands of human love as their situation is framed through the fall of Troy as a result of desire for human love. However, as Aeneas’ boat sails away, Dido commits suicide by climbing a funeral pyre and falling on a sword. The goddesses of the underworld are surprised to see her. Her death, in their eyes, is neither deserved nor destined, but simply tragic. Civic duty takes precedence over private life. The tragedy here lies in the conflict between personal desire and civic duty. Virgil’s point is almost coldly hard-hearted: All personal feelings and desires must be sacrificed to one’s responsibilities to the state. For Virgil, these alternatives seem to be driven by gender as Aeneas is driven only by his desire to go to Italy, and Dido is driven only by her desire for Aeneas.