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The Issue with Fate // Jessef Leslie

 

In the Oxford Dictionary, “fate” is defined as “the things, especially bad things, that will happen or have happened to somebody/something” and these things “cannot be stopped or changed”. In The Iliad and in The Aeneid fate is constantly altered by the gods. Aeneas is distracted, by love for Dido, from his destiny and rumors spread of how he has become a “prisoner of lust.” (Virgil 102).  King Iarbas receives the news and compares Aeneas to “Sir Paris” (103). Aeneas’ destiny is to find Italy and build up Rome, though if this is his destiny, it is strange that he can "waste days" and find a new "fate" entirely. Eventually though, Mercury persuades Aeneas to leave Dido and go searching for Italy. Mercury refers to Aeneas' love as “…wasting your days in Libya” (Virgil 105) and urges him to find Rome for “the future, his honor, and his heir, Ascanius”. Aeneas “burned” to leave Carthage and continue his journey, just like Dido did... too soon? Most people can relate to this strange, burning urge that Aeneas felt and Virgil explains it as the gods' “admonition and commands”.

In comparison, Achilles also is distracted form his fate in The Iliad, he leaves the battle at Troy through jealousy and rage. The idea that fate is like a bullseye on a dartboard seems to be a common theme. Both protagonists, Achilles and Aeneas stray away from their destinies that should be inevitable, and are led back to them through coincidence or the intervention of gods. If fate is something that can be missed, then I do not see why we should call it fate in the first place. The word prophecy/prediction would be a better term to explain how they can miss the mark due to love, rage, or other powerful emotions.


Comments: Haylee Lynd and Ian Blair

Comments

  1. IsabelleNovember 17, 2020 at 7:34 AM

    Hey Jessef! Your post is very thought-provoking.! I like your eloquent overview of the reading. However, I'm not sure that fate is missed. The "heroes" are temporarily distracted- as you said of Aeneas- from their course by meddling gods. When one god alters the course, another god comes in to redirect it. But, you are right in that fate can be stopped, even if only for a moment. Great post!

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