In the government of any civilization, virtue is not only a preferable characteristic of the ruler(s), but a necessary characteristic. Among the virtues, perhaps the two virtues most intrinsically necessary for political decisions are justice and mercy. These virtues are important to a government simply because they form the foundation of civil law, and if not exercised properly a collapse of civil law and civilization itself could result, but if exercised properly , civilization will prosper. An example of the collapse and flourishing of civilizations is exhibited in Virgil's Aeneid, represented by Troy and Rome respectively. In order to prevent the fall of the newly formed civilization that Aeneas is trying to create, Aeneas must understand exactly how to use these two virtues in the most effective way possible for the government of his people, so that his civilization can continue. do not fall like Troy. Through his experiences and observations in Carthage, Sicily, Hades, and on the battlefield, Aeneas learns impartial justice and tender mercy, both essential to making political decisions, and gains the wisdom to determine which of them used to make political decisions. choice in unique political circumstances. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get an original essay Such an observation of the balance between justice and mercy is illustrated when Aeneas goes to the underworld and observes through Rhadamanthus what it means be impartial in your judgments. . Rhadamanthus is given the power to determine the eternal punishment of souls who have been miserable in their previous lives: “This kingdom is under the iron dominion of the Cretan Rhadamanthus. He condemns. He listens and makes souls confess their tortuous ways…” (6. 762-764). Thus, the Sybil explains to Aeneas the punishments of every offender she comes into contact with as a result of the bad things she has done on earth, but is unable to articulate every possible offense for Aeneas' benefit because they lack time. The journey to the underworld is intended to locate Anchises and converse with him to deepen Aeneas' understanding of the fate of Aeneas' lineage, but this journey across the threshold of evil also serves Aeneas well in his understanding of the impartial justice. The journey allows him to discover how the gods themselves administer impartial justice through eternal punishment and anguish using agents such as Rhadamanthus and Tisiphone. The condemnation of souls to eternal pain shows Aeneas the importance of impartial justice when it is the duty, both to the gods and to those who live virtuously, to demand such justice. An example of Aeneas impartially exercising such a duty to the gods is found in his following the will of Jupiter at Carthage in leaving his love, Dido, for his destiny to found Rome. When Jupiter makes it apparent that his wish is not for Aeneas to remain in Carthage with Dido, but rather for him to travel elsewhere to found Rome, Aeneas heartbreakingly complies. In his explanation to Dido for his departure, Aeneas shows his true impartiality in his decision-making abilities: "I do not sail for Italy of my own free will" (4. 499) Aeneas does not want to sail to Italy and prefers to stay. to Carthage with Dido, but he understands that leaving is the right decision to make because it is Jupiter's will, so he does so, even after Dido explodes in a fit of rage and begs Aeneas to stay. Aeneas' impartiality, even in conflict with his own interest,should truly inspire confidence in the reader's imagination as to the potential excellence with which Aeneas will govern the city of Rome. While the previous example illustrates justice through Aeneas' duty to the gods, the final battle between Aeneas and Turnus, in which Aeneas strikes Turnus to death, demonstrates Aeneas' justice through his duty to his virtuous.similar. Indeed, even though Turnus' killing of Pallas is justified, since Turnus and Pallas are fighting on opposite sides of the battlefield, his excessive arrogance after killing Pallas is not only unjustified, but ungodly when he tells the Arcadians, note carefully and report to Evander what I say: In this state I send Pallas away. And I fully grant the honor that tombs confer, what consolation comes from burial. He will not pay a small price to welcome Aeneas." (10. 685-690). After this, Turnus takes Pallas' belt as spoils of war. These two actions taken by Turnus after Pallas' death represent Turnus' wickedness and the It is necessary that Turnus be brought to justice By taunting King Evander and Aeneas, Turnus has done injustice to them and those who fight with them, and simultaneously has done injustice to the gods for taking Pallas' belt in a. act of impiety. Final battle between Aeneas and Turnus, once Turnus is injured and begs Aeneas for mercy, Aeneas initially plans to spare Turnus This changes as soon as Aeneas sees the belt of Pallas worn by Turnus, as this is reminiscent. to Aeneas the wickedness and impiety of Turnus as a result of Turnus' actions against King Evander through the murder of Evander's son and Evander's resulting taunts, as well as Turnus' impiety for. Pallas's body, Aeneas kills Turnus This shows Aeneas's willingness to exact justice in the same way. in Rhadamanthus. However, while Rhadamanthus allows people to be responsible for their transgressions by confessing their crimes before their punishment, Aeneas does not even allow Turnus to admit his fault and repent. Instead, he immediately demands punishment. This fits with Turnus' crimes, however, as Turnus reveals his true nature to Aeneas through his message to King Evander, and any apology Turnus makes would simply be for the sake of his own life, rather than sincere contrition for what he did. This serves as an example of Aeneas fulfilling his duty to his righteous neighbor, King Evander, and shows the excellence with which Aeneas will rule in his ability to be punitive as a ruler. Another example of the excellence that Aeneas possesses in the rule of his people is Aeneas' excursion to Sicily, as it shows the reader Aeneas' ability to exercise clemency, in this case, towards women who try to burn the Trojan ships. Due to Iris's deception, the Trojan women attempt to burn the Trojan ships in an attempt to remain on the relatively peaceful island of Sicily. Iris whips the women into a frenzy: “Come, everyone, set these hellish ships on fire with me!” (5. 821-822). Aeneas, after dealing with the burning ships, could have punished the disobedient women in the same way Odysseus punished the traitorous women of his own house and had the women executed or simply beaten. However, after careful consideration, the reader can easily understand that such an action could lower the morale of the band of hopeful Trojans to a dangerous level. Instead, Aeneas decides to exercise leniency in his condemnation of the women and does not punish them at all, but rather allows them to stay in Sicily with the wounded, so that he can get rid of any further embarrassing antics without lowering crew morale. One might assume that this action is not Aeneas's clemency at all, but rather the rejection of..