Comparing the Aeneid and Dracula
Uploaded by sls465 on Apr 19, 2007
Comparing the Aeneid and Dracula
The Aeneid by Virgil and Bram Stoker’s Dracula are both works centering around love and tragedy. In both of these misfortunes, love is intertwined with suffering. Why are love and suffering connected as such? In The Aeneid, Aeneas suffered a great deal and then was fated to lead his people to Italy and Rome. Aeneas "marries" the Queen of Carthage, Dido, who eventually kills herself out of despair. In Dracula, Elizabetha takes her life after being informed that her beloved prince was slewed in the battle field. Dracula comes home from a victorious battle to find his only true love to have committed suicide. Dracula then makes a pact with the devils that he will walk the earth forever in search for his true love again
On the way to Rome, Aeneas and his men landed at Carthage. Aeneas met the Queen of Carthage, Dido, and during a storm arranged by the gods they consummated their love. When Aeneas had to leave Carthage, he reasoned that he was not married to Dido and that he had no obligation to her. Dido, on the other hand felt that there was a commitment between her and Aeneas and that the experience that they shared meant that they were married. After Aeneas left Carthage, Dido killed herself on Aeneas’’ funeral pyre by throwing herself on to Aeneas’’ sword. When Aeneas saw Dido in Hell, Aeneas begged her to forgive him, but she didn’’t answer him. Since Dido committed suicide and she refused to forgive Aeneas for wronging her, the love between them was tragic.
Dido was a very significant character in The Aeneid. Dido represents both love and suffering. Aeneas and Dido shared a common bond. They both loved each other. Dido represents suffering because she died in the name of love, when she committed suicide. Aeneas consummated his marriage with her in the cave, however, knowing that he was fated to lead the Trojans to Italy and Rome, Aeneas was careless in starting a relationship with Dido. He then picked up and left Carthage, acting to the benefit of his countrymen. Dido belongs in The Aeneid as a character of love and suffering. Dido is an important character in The Aeneid because she illustrates how Aeneas behaved heroically. Aeneas has no choice...