The Aeneid is an epic poem that tells of the founding of Rome. The main character, Aeneas, comes from Troy after it has been sacked by the Greeks and travels to Italy where he becomes the ancestor of Romulus and Remus who are believed to have founded Rome. The Aeneid encompasses many themes but one major theme is that of exile; it follows an exiled protagonist, Aeneas, who is separated from his homeland. The theme of exile is explored in many ways throughout The Aeneid.
The reason for this abandonment, the different types of exiles (exile imposed by one’s own mind versus exile inflicted by another), and the outcomes of these types of exile are all explored through The Aeneid. The theme of exile is expressed countless times throughout The Aeneid to show how being exiled affects a character or characters in the poem. The feeling evoked by this motif changes depending on which type of exiles are involved and to whom they apply.
In Book II, when characters continue to be lost from the Trojan camp after landing at Carthage, it creates a sense of loss and fear at the thought of exploring this new land. The main character, Aeneas, feels for his men as he realizes that they are not there beside him anymore. The fear of exile is felt by many characters throughout The Aeneid . Exile can come in different forms which affect their victims differently depending on the type of exile involved.
The first type mentioned is external exile which occurs when one’s home or place to call home is completely destroyed or taken away through war. The second form of exiles explores internal exile which happens within one’s own mind; whether it be self-imposed or inflicted by an outside force. The Trojans are exiled their homes by war but end up as exiles in their own minds as they continue to battle for where they want to call home. The third form of exile is related to the second, voluntary exile; this occurs when an individual willingly leaves a place for whatever reason.
The final type of exile is self-exile which can be involuntary or voluntary but it always ends up being inflicted by another person. The Thebans are exiled from Thebes after Oedipus fails his test which allows Antigone and Ismene to take charge of the city. The people would have been able to return if Oedipus had passed his test because the king must have the approval of Thebes before returning regardless if he has children or not. The Aeneid begins with a man named Teucer who is exiled from his home after the Greeks defeat Troy.
The first protagonist protagonist to be exiled is Aeneas who left Troy after it fell and landed at Carthage where he met Queen Dido, whom was also an exile from Tyre. The theme of exile continues as Aeneas eventually leaves Carthage and sails toward Italy where he meets many others who have been exiled as well. The Thebans are later exiled from Thebes as Oedipus fails his test which allows Antigone and Ismene take charge of the city. The Trojans were forced out by civil war in their own homeland so they had no choice but to leave.
Exile can influence a character in many different ways. The man, Teucer, that is exiled from his home in The Aeneid was not the only one to be afflicted with this issue. The other characters are also affected by exile because it changes how they perceive places and people after having been sent away from their own homes. The place of exile, Thebes, becomes neglected under Antigone’s rule while Carthage flourishes as Queen Dido makes the most out of her country as a “refugee” (pg. 488).
The effects of exile change depending on the type of exile involved; for examples external exile generally leads to more destruction or deterioration but internal exiles lead to mental destruction or decline. The Theban palace falls into ruins after Antigone neglects Thebes while Carthage flourishes through Queen Dido’s strength. The Theban palace crumbles because the Thebans are no longer there to look after it or maintain it, same goes for the abandoned Trojan ships which deteriorate over time after being neglected.
The Trojan ships were left behind during their escape from Troy so they would have had to be maintained by hand instead of having the help of technology like smithing which takes tools and supplies that people did not take with them when they fled Troy. The Trojans abandoned many things including their homes in order to flee the war that was destroying their city but it later affects them because they are unable to return once Aeneas passes his test. The Thebans abandon Thebes as well but they never return to the city because Oedipus fails his test and he takes up residence in Thebes instead of returning.
The Theban palace crumbles like the Trojan ships because the people that were supposed to take care of it no longer live there; Antigone neglects Thebes while Queen Dido does her best to make Carthage flourish even through her exile. Exile also changes how characters see certain places and people after having experienced a form of exile. The Trojans are able to recognize their loved ones’ faces again once Aeneas returns home but upon seeing them, he is filled with guilt for being away from them during the war that destroyed their lives.
The Thebans are also able to see their loved ones again after Oedipus passes his test and is allowed back into Thebes but they feel resentment toward him for not passing the test earlier. The Trojans were forced out of home by war while the Thebans were exiled from Thebes under Antigone’s rule therefore the guilt that Aeneas feels upon seeing his loved ones reveals that he feels guilty about leaving them behind during the Trojan War. The Theban citizens look at Oedipus’ refusal to pass his test as cowardice because they believe if he had passed, Thebes would have been spared destruction during civil war.
Exile allows many characters to see how strong some people can be so they are able to rely on themselves instead of looking for help from others. The Theban citizens look to Antigone as a leader figure because she is so strong and determined even though her brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices, were fighting against each other in Thebes during civil war. The Trojans also become independent after Aeneas leaves them behind during the Trojan War; they build ships and hold things together through their own strength without Aeneas’ guidance.