Aeneas as a Leader Essay Example

to Italy and establish what is to be one of the greatest empires.  To do this, Aeneas must set his sites on the future and his fate instead of what he wants.

This was extremely difficult for him since his mother was Venus, the goddess of erotic love which is totally hedonistic.  It was a part of his very fabric because her blood rushed through his veins, yet he resisted it for the good of others.  Aeneas comes to recognize his historical task with greater precision.  His sympathy for the distress of his people, while having a single-minded loyalty to his obligation, is another characteristic of his great leadership.

Right from the start, Aeneas motivates the men who have followed him.  He inspires them when they first reach land in Libya, by reminding them of worse situations that they have overcome in the past.

He halted and, weeping, "What place now" he said, "Achates,  what region on earth is not full of [the story of] our hardship?  Behold Priam. Here too are the rewards of glory;  there are tears for things, and what is mortal touches the mind."  (Virgil. Book 1, lines 459-462)

A true leader will forsake his/her own desires and wishes for the good of his/her people and that is exactly what Aeneas does.  He and Dido fall deeply in love and even though they have not been ceremoniously married, they consummate their love.  In Dido’s eyes they are married.  Jupiter and Mercury know that the fate of Aeneas is to start the Roman Empire and that staying with Dido, would keep him from fulfilling his destiny.

He

is warmed by Mercury to leave Dido because fate must rule.  Love is a strong and the ultimate emotion that a person can fee.  Most people are focused on their own wants and needs, however, Aeneas chooses the greater good over the woman he loves.  He displays one of his greatest leadership qualities when he forsakes love for the good of his destiny.

Do not let love or treaty tie our peoples. May an avenger rise up from my bones, one who will track with firebrand and sword the Dardan settlers, now and in the future, at any time that ways present themselves. (Virgil.Book 4, lines 861-6)

Aeneas makes many difficult decisions which cause him pain, yet are for the greater good.  He decides to leave part of his followers who he was to protect behind in Sicily.  It is never an easy decision for leaders to abandon his/her people.  Aeneas feels the same, yet there are many who are elderly, sick, and some females are not able to continue on to Italy.

It is in the best interest of everyone to leave those who do not want to travel on or are not able to make the journey to stay.  He felt that he was abandoning his fellow countrymen.  Still Aeneas makes the hard decision for the greater good.