Elissa

Definition

Elissa, also known as Dido, is the legendary queen of Carthage in Vergil's Aeneid, particularly significant in Book 4. She is characterized by her tragic love for Aeneas, which drives much of the emotional conflict in the narrative. Her story explores themes of passion, betrayal, and the struggle between duty and desire as she faces the consequences of Aeneas's departure.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Elissa's passionate love for Aeneas leads her to forget her former life, showcasing her depth of emotion and vulnerability.
2. Her relationship with Aeneas highlights the conflict between personal desire and social duty, as he ultimately chooses his fate over his love for her.
3. Elissa's despair after Aeneas leaves drives her to commit suicide, making her one of the most tragic figures in the epic.
4. The narrative surrounding Elissa also reflects broader themes of loss and abandonment, with her character serving as a warning about the dangers of love that defies fate.
5. Elissa’s legacy continues through the historical enmity between Rome and Carthage, framing her story as both personal and political.

Review Questions

• How does Elissa's character serve to illustrate the themes of love and betrayal in the Aeneid?
  • Elissa's character embodies the intense emotions associated with love and betrayal as she falls deeply for Aeneas, only to be abandoned when he departs to fulfill his destiny. Her feelings highlight how love can lead to vulnerability and despair. This betrayal ultimately drives her to tragic ends, illustrating how personal relationships are impacted by larger forces at play in their lives.
• In what ways does Elissa’s relationship with Aeneas reflect the conflict between individual desires and societal obligations?
  • Elissa’s relationship with Aeneas showcases a poignant struggle between personal longing and societal responsibilities. While she desires to keep Aeneas with her in Carthage, he is bound by fate to continue his journey toward founding Rome. This conflict reveals how individual desires can clash with preordained destinies, leading characters like Elissa to tragic choices.
• Discuss how Elissa’s story contributes to the overarching narrative of fate versus free will within the Aeneid.
  • Elissa’s story powerfully illustrates the theme of fate versus free will within the Aeneid. Her passionate love for Aeneas demonstrates her exercise of free will, yet her ultimate fate—marked by abandonment and suicide—reflects a predestined path that she cannot escape. Through her tragedy, Vergil emphasizes that while individuals may act according to their desires, they are often powerless against greater forces that shape their destinies, such as divine will or fate.

Related terms

Aeneas:

The Trojan hero and central figure in the Aeneid, whose destiny is to found a new city in Italy, ultimately leading to the establishment of Rome.

Carthage:

An ancient city located in present-day Tunisia, founded by Phoenicians; it becomes a central setting in the Aeneid and represents both a place of refuge and conflict for Aeneas.

Fate: A recurring theme in the Aeneid that refers to the predetermined course of events that characters cannot escape, shaping their actions and consequences.