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Themes in The Aeneid Book 12

By Sierra Arnold

Venus vs. Juturna

Will of the gods: Juturna first interferes by disguising herself as a Rutulian and riling up Turnus' army and sending an omen to encourage them to break the treaty. She also assumes the form of Turnus' charioteer so that she can keep him away from the battle. Venus helps heal Aeneas and both goddesses retrieve the weapons of the heroes when they need them.

--Divine interference is mostly what keeps Aeneas from quickly achieving his goal; Turnus is outmatched by him.

Love for family: Venus, as Aeneas' mother, and Juturna, as Turnus' sister, both try to help their relative in his fight. Juturna is distressed when she is prevented from continuing to help her brother, and wishes that she doesn't have to be immortal while her brother is dead.

The main idea of Book 12 is that Aeneas finally triumphs over Turnus and secures his destiny.

Jupiter & Juno's Decision

Destiny: Jupiter asks Juno why she is delaying what she knows is fated to happen. He also says that certain things are certain to happen in the future (such as the Latins keeping their customs/name, etc)

--relates to will of the gods because Juno asks for certain things to happen and Jupiter allows it

Other ideas:

  • The gods play a major role in their battle; Jupiter and Venus help Aeneas, Juno and Juturna help Turnus.
  • The characters' actions are often compelled by familial love.

Juno & Juturna

Compromise: Jupiter forbids Juno to keep interfering with the Trojans, but Juno requests that if she stops, the Latins be able to keep their name. Jupiter agrees that Trojan culture will merge into Latin culture and not the other way around.

--this compromise is what allows Romans to argue that they have a connection to the Trojans

Final Battle

Will of the gods: Juno, still trying to foil Aeneas, is directly interfering in the agreement between Aeneas and Turnus by encouraging Juturna, a powerful nymph, to get involved and protect her brother, or "stir conflict and shatter the treaty."

Love for family: Juno appeals to Juturna's love for her brother. Juturna grows emotional at the thought of her brother's death.

Fate: Turnus recgonizes that he is out of options and must face his death; Aeneas kills Turnus and contradicts Anchises' prediction that the Romans will show mercy to the conquered.

-- Alternately, he could be fulfilling the "crush the arrogant" prediction

  • both major factors in Aeneas/Turnus' battle
  • important sub-themes throughout this book

Revenge: Aeneas kills Turnus because Turnus killed Pallas and took his armor; he says that "Pallas [...] exacts retribution from your guilty blood."

-- Also connects to familial love theme because Aeneas is supposed to be a paternal figure to Pallas

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