Homers Underworld in The Odyssey Vs. Vergils Underworld in The Aeneid and the Values that the Similarities and Differences Posses Free Essay Example, 1250 words

Odysseus’ reconciliation with his dead mother is quite ironic as she is the person who gave him life and he ends up meeting her in the world of the dead. On the other hand Homer may have favored Anticleia to greet Odysseus in the underworld and Laertes to greet Odysseus in his hometown because men had more position than women did in Homer’s time. Virgil may have specifically chosen Aeneas to meet his father as he slept with a goddess therefore having more status then Anticleia or any other woman. A demigod connotes power, â€Å"Roman, remember by your strength to rule Earth’s peoples – for your arts are to be these: to pacify, to impose the rule of law, to spare the conquered and battle down the proud. † (6. 1151-1154) Furthermore, both Aeneas and Odysseus encounter unburied friends in purgatory, unable to enter peacefully because they were never buried. Odysseus is surprised when he meets Elpenor, his friend who died having fallen off of a roof in Circe’s island rather left to rot, while Aeneas is taken aback when he meets Palinaurus, a citizen of his town who was killed by a group of vagabonds in Italy and also not given the respect of a proper burial. We will write a custom essay sample on Homers Underworld in The Odyssey Vs. Vergils Underworld in The Aeneid and the Values that the Similarities and Differences Posses or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now Both unburied friends begged for a proper burial so that they could have a normal life in the underworld, both were denied. Not only does this scene show plot similarities, it also exemplifies differences in the two main characters. Odysseus responds to the request by promising to return to Circe’s island to bury Elpenor’s remains gracefully while in Aeneus’ case, his guide, the Sybil, promises to persuade the locals to do the task. This is yet another example of Virgil setting a higher standard for the Trojans in opposition to the Greeks, as Aeneas simply has more important tasks to accomplish than soiling his hands with labor meant for the common man. Traveling further into the Underworld, Odysseus acquires a first hand glimpse of the horrific side of hell while it is merely described to Aeneas by the Sybil. Even when told of Tityus, a character whose liver is devoured by vultures every day and grows back every night, Vergil refrains from letting Aeneas actually witness the revolting process while Homer forces his main character observe first hand. Aeneas’ superiority is once again expressed. After passing through the journey to the ultimate destination, entering the actual Underworld, more similarities arise anew. Although both characters have to make many sacrifices, Aeneas’ are more suited for a gentleman.