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A review by dkatreads
The Aeneid by Virgil
4.0
Surprisingly engaging. This is a gripping translation and the story was much more local than I was expecting.
Lots of violent metaphors of nature. Describes being speared in an absurd amount of ways. Women are portrayed unsurprisingly as meddlesome, emotionally unreasonable, and largely powerless to the fates and whims of men.
Lots to unpack about the violence of empire and the means of myth-making. But, you can also argue there are critiques of Rome embedded. Particularly the naming of seemingly every victim of violence. This was overwhelming as a reader, and I think that was the point. Every death carries a life with it, not just a body. Violence is untold destruction- Virgil wanted to tell it.
Connections to western culture abound. Worth reading as a seminal story in its formation, and worth critiquing too. Also, you can’t ignore Virgil’s sheer creativity and mastery of language. Truly impressive, though problematic no doubt.
Lots of violent metaphors of nature. Describes being speared in an absurd amount of ways. Women are portrayed unsurprisingly as meddlesome, emotionally unreasonable, and largely powerless to the fates and whims of men.
Lots to unpack about the violence of empire and the means of myth-making. But, you can also argue there are critiques of Rome embedded. Particularly the naming of seemingly every victim of violence. This was overwhelming as a reader, and I think that was the point. Every death carries a life with it, not just a body. Violence is untold destruction- Virgil wanted to tell it.
Connections to western culture abound. Worth reading as a seminal story in its formation, and worth critiquing too. Also, you can’t ignore Virgil’s sheer creativity and mastery of language. Truly impressive, though problematic no doubt.