virgils rejection of dido
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In the Aeneid, written by Latin poet Virgil, he explains a tragic story of two lovers who are separated because of one's destiny. The two lovers in this tragic love tail are Aeneas and Dido. Aeneas who is the leader of the fleeing Trojans comes into Carthage because of a shipwreck, during that time he meets his love Dido, who happens to be the Queen of Carthage. Aeneas has to reject his feelings for Dido and fulfill his destiny and responsibilities to his people. Dido does not understand why Aeneas is doing what he is doing. She strikes down and causes a civil war between the Carthagians and Romans. Virgil has his reasons and responsibilities for not ending the story with Aeneas and Dido residing together in Carthage. Virgil has to create a history for his Roman empire and for Augustus Caesar. If Aeneas would have stayed and satisfied his free will, instead of pleasing his God's, then there would be no story or history behind the Roman empire. He used his character Aeneas to create a heroic character that personified what his culture was all about...