In Book IV of Virgil's epic The Aeneid, the messenger of the gods Mercury advises the hero Aeneas that "a thing always uncertain and inconstant is woman" (IV.768-7). As Aeneas makes his journey from the ruins of Troy to the potential glory of Latium, he discovers this by meeting several women he might marry, a decision based largely on whether they justify or refute the claim of Mercury. Dido and Anna, the women of Carthage, reflect the inconstancy of which Mercury speaks, while Creusa, the Trojan wife of Aeneas, Queen Amata of Carthage and the Volican warrior Camilla refute his theory with their constant behavior. None of these women are destined to be Aeneas' wife because of their strength, social status, or race. It is therefore obvious that a woman who separates herself from others is destined and appropriate to fulfill this role. Although Lavinia, Princess of Latium, is depicted with very little character development in The Aeneid, her passivity and unconditional obedience, in addition to her race and royal status, illustrate her suitability as the ideal Roman wife. and the queen of Aeneas. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay Dido, ruler of Carthage, almost becomes the wife of Aeneas, but she is immediately deemed unsuitable for Aeneas. In her first appearance in the novel, she oversees the construction of her city and is described as having tasks traditionally performed by a man, such as "making judgments...giving laws, [and] dividing the work". Although she is initially portrayed as overly masculine, Aeneas later reveals in the novel that she performed a very wifely duty: making clothes, saying that "happy with this task, [she] had once made him some [ twin tunics] with his own hands” (XI.96-7). Despite this accomplishment, which is not revealed until nearly ten books after her death, Dido still cannot be Aeneas' wife, mainly because of her continued inconstancy. Throughout her behavior in the novel, Dido proves overly sensitive to his fury when she repudiates his words. her “sure and unshakable decision not to marry anyone” (IV.17-8) and falls in love with Aeneas. While she was once "in her joy... eager to work in the work of her coming kingdom" (I.710-11), she now abandons him, leaving him "neglected" (IV.118). , invaded by frenzy and fire. in his heart. Moreover, “She begins to speak, then hesitates and stops in the middle of her speech” (IV.110-1) demonstrating an inconsistency in her dialogue. She then decides that her relationship with Aeneas is no longer a “furtive love.” For Dido calls this marriage” (IV.226-7) even if she knows that it is only adultery against the memory of her husband and against her city. Her most fluctuating actions, however, are triggered when she discovers Aeneas' plan to leave Carthage. At this time, the one who “deigned to join him” (IV.254) now “attacks” (IV.409) Aeneas. She first begs: “Nothing can hold you back” (IV.412), then says to him: “I do not refute your words. I'm not holding you back" (IV.519-20) and then telling Anna later: "If he would only grant... this final gift to wait" (IV.590-1). These whims, fueled by fate, make Dido's personality far too volatile for a man with enough burdens on his shoulders Anna, Dido's sister, exhibits similar traits when she first appeals to Dido for love. , saying, "How can you fight against such acceptable love (IV.48-9), then later blaming Dido alone for her actions by stating, "You have done yourself?destroyed, you and me... and your whole city” (IV.939-42). This inconsistency, while important, is only part of the reason why none of the Carthaginian princesses are believed to be Aeneas' consort. Originating in North Africa, they are geographically and culturally opposed to the Trojan race of Aeneas, who best associate with a European people like the Latins. Both women also foolishly attempt to fight the will of fate when Anne hopes that Aeneas will marry Dido and when Dido tries to convince Aeneas to stay despite the fact that they both know that her journey does not end to Carthage, because Aeneas told him of his wife's prophecy that he will "reach Hesperia" (II.1054) and there will be a new wife and a new kingdom. Although Dido and Anna are very marked cases of wayward women, there are others who, despite their constancy, are still not fit to become Aeneas' founding partner. Creusa, once the beloved wife of Aeneas, for example, is depicted with abiding loyalty and understanding of what is best for her husband and for the future of Rome. She declares her love for him, calling him her "sweet husband" (II.1046) and while his voice of reason explains to him why they cannot be together saying: "this could never happen without the decree of the gods » (II. .1048-9). Creusa knows what destiny awaits her husband and she can't wait for him to fulfill it without trying to get involved. She instead accepts fate and is proud of her role on Earth as "the Dardan woman and wife of the son of Venus" (II.1061-2) and is grateful to the gods that she "sees not the haughty houses of the Myrmidons" . ...or be the slave of the Greek matrons" (II.1058-61) as a prisoner of war. She is, in the words of Aeneas, "happy" (XI, 205) to sacrifice herself in the name of Rome Creusa is the quintessential Roman woman: unconditionally loyal, loving, pious and submissive to the gods, reasonable, altruistic and understanding her role. Only, she is a Trojan, and Aeneas' destiny is not to found another. colony of Trojans, but a completely new breed, which cannot be produced by pure Trojan blood. Like Creusa, Queen Amata is also constant, but in a bad way. She is unwaveringly loyal to her country and its will. to make Turnus her son-in-law, crying to her husband: “Will Lavinia become the wife of the Trojan exiles (VII.474-5) so intense that it drives her to suicide? Amata “prepared to die, holding tightly to his enraged son-in-law” (XII.76-7), tells Turnus that “all that awaits you waits. me too” (XII.84-5). Also, when she believes Turnus dead, she kills herself, stupidly shouting that "she herself is guilty" (XII, 806), when she should accept that it is not her but fate that caused his death. She is also always disobedient to her partner; despite his “firmness against her” (VII.497), she hides Lavinia in the mountains, “stealing the marriage from the Trojan” (VII.515-6). Although it can be argued that her hysterical behavior is caused by Allecto who "breathes his viper's breath into her frenzy" (VII.464), Virgil claims that Allecto only reinforces the feelings that Amata already has within her : “the anxieties and anger of a woman”. " (VII.455-6). Although she demonstrates consistent behavior in her disobedience to her husband and loyalty to Turnus, her madness and utter hatred for the Trojans does not allow her to be a suitable partner for Aeneas Another Latina, Camilla the warrior, exhibits some qualities of an ideal Roman woman, namely loyalty to her male leader (in her case, Turnus) and self-sacrifice, since she dies for it. her cause She is also very courageous and proud,.