I have to say I was very concerned as I read the first book. I was having a hard time understanding anything that was going on. Thank the Lord for online explanations. Sometimes reading an explanation after reading a passage is very helpful to understanding the meaning behind things. Thankfully, by the third book I was able to grasp what I was reading without any help. That is the goal!
There is a lot to be said of the three books we were assigned to read. At one point, I had an epiphany, and had to run get my copy of the Iliad to confirm my suspicions. As soon I saw the name Andromache in book III, I had to stop and think “Is that not Hector’s wife?”. I ran and grabbed the Iliad and realized that I was correct. You have no idea how excited I was that one of my favorite characters to write on is in the Aeneid and survived the violence that was definitely around her.
My excited feeling slowly dissipated as I realized that she remarried. After some thought, I realized, that in that time period, it was unheard of a woman to be widowed at such an age and not remarry. What really intrigued me was how often she would mention Hector and how much she loved and missed him. When we are first introduced to her she “Was making from a ceremonial meal / Her offerings and libation to the dust, / Calling the great shade at a tomb called Hector’s / made by her” (Virgil, 3.409-411). Andromache was out sacrificing at the empty grave of her late husband. Imagine being her new husband and constantly seeing her leave to sacrifice at the husband she loved’s grave. As well as hearing her express her love of him and missing him with her whole being.
I would imagine that most men would not be very happy to hear their wife constantly admonishing and missing her late husband. However, from what I have seen so far of her new husband, Helenus, he does not seem to be of that character. He seems to be understanding of her grief and despair. I completely understand that I could be misinterpreting the entire situation. What do you think?
P.s. I commented on Haylee Lynd’s and Rachael’s posts.
In Judaism, there is a common ritual performed in which a relative, an in-law, or anyone willing to will step in for the widowed and the young in order to marry them and care for them. The best example of this concept can be found here: "Then Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, 'May the Lord bless him because he has not abandoned his kindness to the living or the dead.' Naomi continued, 'The man is a close relative. He is one of our family redeemers.'" (Ruth 2:20). I believe this ritual is also carried out by Helenus and Andromache.
ReplyDeleteI know when my mom lost her first husband, she remarried within two years. Her new husband (my adopted dad) told me years down the road that he felt like she didn't truly move on from her first husband for years after they got married. He said it was rough goings at first, but he realized that grieving is a process that doesn't really have a timeline. Everyone grieves at different rates. I think that Helenus might have come to the same conclusion.
ReplyDeleteI love how supportive he seems of her and the grief that she is dealing with. He doesn't seem to give her a hard time for leaving and grieving over her deceased husband and I really respect that.
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