Stereotypes flood the world. Whether you think all Texas people ride horses to work or all Brits drink tea, they infiltrate many aspects of daily life. Stereotypes are not new, as the problem of slavery in America in the 19th century shows. But such conventions go back even further. They constitute a fundamental element of human existence. As such, they appear in the literature of all periods, including that of ancient Rome. At the time Virgil was writing, the female character was generally a stereotype. Virgil, however, bucked these trends and created a strong female character, Dido. Dido is eventually forced into a more stereotypical girlish role by the gods in an attempt to embarrass Achilles, but her true nature is the exact opposite of a traditional female character in ancient Rome. Dido, for some, was portrayed as a lovesick girl who falls. too easily for a man. This would be a formula often followed for a female character in ancient Rome. Consumed by love, she makes rash decisions and ends up paying the high price for her madness caused by the blindness of love. At first glance, Dido fits these parameters well. A closer look gives a different result. Looking at her life before Aeneas came and brought with him an Olympian feud, she was doing just fine without a man by her side. She had single-handedly “[planned] her escape,” including those following her, and led them to safety (Book 1, line 438). After that, she taught them and helped them build a huge city, which would become one of the most important cities in the ancient world. She led them well without the help of a man...... middle of paper ......f her destiny to found Rome. Dido isn't just this hysterical, clingy girlfriend who overreacts to her boyfriend breaking up, she's forced into this hysterical love by the gods. Dido's role in the Aeneid is somewhat complicated. At first glance, she appears to be simply a stereotypical woman, acting as a potential spoiler for Aeneas to complete his journey. Closer examination reveals the truth, that she functions as an example of the power the gods wield over humanity, and that she is actually a strong, independent woman who rules a thriving city. Virgil somewhat makes his reader believe that her role is what he expects, while showing that a female character can really play a big role in an epic novel. It's as if he provided a small, masked example of a powerful, strong-willed female character that posterity could look at and develop...