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Jupiter is a boss-Rachael Gregson

 



One thing I found humorous in the Aeneid was Jupiter himself. While all the other gods and goddesses were running around like chickens with their heads cut off trying to sway particular humans into siding with their cause, Jupiter is the only one who actually can force humans into his will but ultimately decides not to each time. When Venus suggests that he assist her with the Trojans, he merely says that the destiny of her son is set, and that nothing can stop the Trojans from becoming the strongest empire, reaffirming her that "it is decreed/that there the realm of Troy will rise again." (lines 287-288) The only situation he really interferes with the human world is when one of the goddesses inappropriately injures a mortal. Something about his role in our reading makes me chuckle. It is like he's the peacemaker on a middle school playground that referees fights and picks up the broken pieces of everyone afterwards. He doesn't really get in the middle of anything and trusts that humans are capable of working out their own matters, unlike the other gods who like to meddle with whatever they can get their hands on.

I commented on posts by Jacob Clabo and Abbie Hedden.

Comments

  1. Jackson RiddleNovember 11, 2020 at 11:55 PM

    I like your perspective of Jupiter as the referee in a fight, it put a new light on how I saw him as a character in the epic. I personally understand what it's like to be the referee; growing up, I was the oldest of 3, and as I grew older I often found myself holding back my siblings from a full on war, making sure to stay neutral. It's interesting that Jupiter takes this stance in the affairs of mortals, as he could easily overuse his power to meddle in anything he wants.

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  2. Caroline TuckerNovember 12, 2020 at 7:59 AM

    I realized something similar as well about the gods. I thought it was interesting to see the difference between the Greek gods and what the Romans changed them to. It is easily seen how the Romans changed the Greek gods into somewhat order loving and justice driven gods. The Roman perception of the gods is definitely a better view to believe and follow in. It gives more hope and structure.

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