Choices of One's Heart

                In the book of Aeneid, the night when the Greeks popped out of the wooden horse and assaulted the Trojans, Aeneas was warned by Hector’s ghost in his dream that the land was under attack. Aeneas was preparing for the battle but Creusa, his dearest wife, requested to escape with her, his son, Ascanius, and his father, Anchises. Aeneas loves his family and didn’t want them to get slain. So he decided to go with the idea of his wife rather than to fight the Greeks.

Whereas in the book Iliad, as Hector returned to the battle, he gave one last look to his loving wife, Andromache, and his young son, Astyanax. Andromache pleaded to Hector not to continue because she didn’t want him to die. Yet Hector refused and said that he could not be a coward. It was for him to fight always in the forefront of battle. He glanced as his terrified son. When Astyanax grow up, he will be far greater than him. Hector bid goodbye to his family and came back to the war.

The scenes showed the choices made by the young great Trojan heroes between the two things which are very important to them; their loved ones or their own country. Aeneas selected his family while Hector chose his homeland. It was a hard option but they had to pick. Both Creusa and Andromache treasured their son and husband and didn’t want to loose them. The scenes also showed the love and determination of each character in the two stories.

One Lose is Enough

                The book of Aeneid showed the laws of a city who was controlled by military forces and was undergoing in war. Based on some facts in history, laws and rules during those times were terrible and were very strict. If you are beaten that time, you must accept the punishment that will be granted onto you. If you won a battle, you are luck. But if you lost, you must face your destiny.

                Sometimes, when a person was once defeated he will try not to be overcome again. You can compare the situation in the book. We all know that the end of the Trojan War was when Aeneas’ country fell in the arms of the Greeks. He did not want that to happen this once more so he did his best not to fail. He won every battle he encountered for his countrymen. This book also displays that at those times, war ad death was a natural part of life.

                Aeneid has a good plot that a person could relate to. It shows some aspects in life that we sometimes feel.

Sorrow Behind Success

Aeneas was a brave Trojan hero who set sails to establish a new country for his fellow men. But behind his success in his journey, he encountered a lot of misfortunes along his way. It all started when the wooden horse, entered the walls of Troy. Greek warriors were inside and attacked at the time when the Trojans were at their weakest. Aeneas was asked by his wife, Creusa, not to fight and flee with her, his son Ascanius and his father, Anchises. While leaving his homeland together with his family, Creusa was lost in the crowd and died. Aeneas saw the downfall of his beloved land with his own eyes. On the sea, many of his companions were gone due to some circumstances and battles. In the end, he managed to stand up and continued his journey for the sake of those who believed in him.

                At first, I’m always at the side of the Greeks whenever I read Greek and Roman mythologies. But that moment when I was able to know the events during the Trojan War, I felt pity for them. I didn’t imagine that it was a tragedy for Aeneas when the Trojans were defeated by the Greeks. I can tell that it was hard for Aeneas to lead his people because they were being stopped by the goddesses Juno, Minerva and Iris. After all his hardships in life like the death of his father and wife, I think that Aeneas felt alone sometimes. He was destined to guide his people to their new realm and to start all over again.

If I was in his place, I will loose fate and will give up easily. However, he had courage and trust with his travel companions. Ascanius was his only family left to him who served as his inspiration to keep going.