Comparison between “Aeneid” and “A Farewell to Arms”

The Aeneid’s themes are plenty; each gives an idea of what shaped the lives of the ancient Romans. A theme such as fate tells of how the
ancient Romans struggled with the concept, while the idea of divine intervention reveals their religiosity.

Virgil’s way of conveying concepts to his readers through his epic poem is somewhat extraordinary. Aeneid covers different concepts in ancient
Rome, and the vital critical ideas are of fate, patriotism,honor, and most importantly war

Fate in Aenied: Fate in the Aeneid is a significant theme that serves as a foundation for the whole epic poem. It describes how man will fulfill
his destiny despite the challenges and detours he may face along life’s journey. The epic poem is replete with various examples of people
fulfilling their destinies regardless of the setbacks, but none rivals the example of Aeneas. Furthermore, the poem is based on Aeneas, his
adventures, and his destiny.

The epic hero, Aeneas, was spurred on by the resolve to leave a lasting legacy for his sons and generations yet to come. The goddess Juno, the
wife, and sister of Jupiter, hated Aeneas because of the prophecy that he would find Rome, and she presented several obstacles to obstruct
him. However, as fate would have it, Aeneas surmounted all the challenges and lived to fulfill his destiny. On a few occasions, Jupiter
intervened and brought Aeneas back on track when it seemed that Juno was succeeding in obstructing his progress.

Patriotism and duty in Aenied: Virgil’s masterpiece is the undying love for one’s country. Virgil’s idea for the Aeneid was to instill in his Roman
readers the idea to work for the betterment of Rome. He illustrates this through the life of Aeneas as he sacrifices and works harder to establish
and better Rome. His devotion towards his father by carrying him on his back while they fled the burning Troy was an example worthy of
emulation for every Roman citizen.

Aeneas even journeyed to the Underworld against all odds just to see his father as his father had wished. His devotion to his father exemplifies
the attitude every Roman should have towards their country. His willingness to die for his father is what the Roman citizens inculcated inculcate
as they sought to promote the interests of Rome abroad. Ideals like these served as a foundation for building the great Roman empire that
conquered almost half the known world.

The poet also mentioned the name of Caesar Augustus, the ruler of the Roman empire when the poem was written, to inspire patriotism
among the populace. The citizens took pride in the achievements of one of the most extraordinary emperors, and everyone wanted to
associate with him. The mention of Augustus Caesar is an example of symbolism in the Aeneid because he represents the loyalty and patriotism
the ancient rulers of Rome demanded.

Honor in the Aeneid:Just like the Greeks, the Romans were very particular about honoring the living and their ancestors. Aeneas’ reverence for
his father characterizes this even to the point of joining him in the Underworld at his father’s request. Aeneas also honors his son Ascanius by
building for him a lasting legacy that would be passed on to generations after him. Thus, the idea was to teach the citizens to honor both the
living and the dead and not to respect one to the detriment of the other.

Finally, the Romans were expected to honor their country and that was the message Virgil communicated in the epic poem. Through Aeneas,
we learn that one has to sacrifice their goals, time, pleasure, and their lives, when it is required, for the good of the country. Aeneas’ entire life
illustrates just that as he battles through obstacles and sacrifices his relationship with his wife to found Rome. Thus, the Aeneid teaches honor
to the gods, the living, the dead, and the country.

Idea of sacrifice and duty in A farewell to arms

Published in 1929, Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms follows the romance of an American, Frederic Henry – who is serving as a Lieutenant
in the Ambulance Corps of the Italian Army – and Catherine Barkley, a British nurse; all against the backdrop of World War I. While the text is
divided into several books, the overall narrative that Henry provides can be divided by where he spent his time: 1. with the army and 2. with
Catherine. The interesting part about war novels written together with a romantic story is the overall juxtaposition, and Hemingway definitely
uses this to his advantage to explore the notions of loyalty – both to love and to his duty in the Italian Army.

Sacrifice and glory In vain:

When reading through the text, it becomes clear that many of the soldiers share an ambivalence towards the war. Rinaldi, a friend of Henry’s,
claims that the war is “killing [him]” and that he is “very depressed by it.” Henry does not shy away from expressing his own sentiments
towards the war as well. When hearing other soldiers describing the hope that their efforts were not being done in vain, it elicits Henry to
describe his feelings (ones most likely shared by others) in which he reveals that he is embarrassed by the words sacred, glorious, and sacrifice
and the expression in vain. [They] had heard them, sometimes standing in the rain almost out of earshot, so that only the shouted words came
through, and had read them, on proclamations that were slapped up by billposters over other proclamations, now for a long time, and [he] had
seen nothing sacred, and the things that were glorious had no glory and the sacrifices were like the stockyards at Chicago if nothing was done
with the meat except to bury it. There were many words that you could not stand to hear and finally only the names of places had dignity.
Certain numbers were the same way and certain dates and theses with the names of the places were all you could say and have them mean
anything. Abstract words such as glory, honor, courage, or hallow were obscene beside the concrete names of villages, the numbers of roads,
the names of rivers, the numbers of regiments and the dates.

War as Destruction

For Henry, his role in the Italian Army and the war as a whole is one stripped of the glamor placed on it by media and journalists. Henry
presents the reality that is war – the death and destruction – but ties it into the notion that these are the inevitable outcomes associated with
wars due to the cruel nature of the world we live in. It is this notion that Hemingway carries throughout the war sections of the novel. It is seen
in the shoddiness of their equipment, lack of supplies, and it is especially evident in the Italian retreat. Commenting on his army, Henry points
out the vast amount of confusion that began growing amongst the men. Henry claims that they “are in more danger from Italians than
Germans…The Germans know what they’re after.” The Italians, on the other hand, “were frightened and firing on anything they saw.” Henry
goes on further to say that “There was no need to confuse our retreat [because] the size of the army and the fewness of the roads did that.”
These depictions only add to the unglamorous, cruel realities of war that Hemingway is painting in the novel. It is at this point that we must
now turn to where Henry’s loyalty really rests, and that is in his relationship with Catherine.

When you love you wish to do things for. You wish to sacrifice for. You wish to serve.”

- Ernest Hemingway

In examining both aspects of Henry’s life, during his time as a soldier he exhibited a very basic form of service – accepting no recognition or
praise for his efforts. However, in his relationship with Catherine, Henry goes to great lengths for her – leaving the army and taking her away to
Switzerland where they would both be safe. He really exemplifies his loyalty to Catherine and it is with each other that they find temporary
refuge from the horrible effects of the war. With their relationship, Catherine and Henry end up isolating themselves from the rest of the world,
or so it seems in their minds. That is the case whenever Henry would think about Catherine during the war – it was his escape where he could
isolate himself from the action. Then, once Henry has left the army, he chooses to separate himself from the war as best as he can. At one point
he states that he “did not want to read about the war. [He] was going to forget the war. [He] had made a separate peace.” Hemingway,
however, does not make A Farewell to Arms a novel in which love prevails – it is the reason that makes the ending so tragic. Despite the fact
that Henry and Catherine are able to be together, their love ultimately succumbs to the realities of the world, just like the war and everything
else. It is through Catherine, Henry, and their overall relationship that makes this line ring true in the novel:

"The world breaks every one and afterward many are strong at the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good
and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too but there will be no special
hurry."

Conclusion:

The Aeneid is underpinned by several themes which convey specific ideas or messages to its audience poem is the fate which suggests that
whatever has been willed would come to pass regardless of the obstacles.

The theme of honor explores the Roman citizen’s obligation to revere the living, the dead, and the gods, as demonstrated by Aeneas
throughout the poem.The war and peace highlights the frivolous reasons that start the war and the peace that ensues after all hostilities are
settled.

A Farewell to Arms solidifies the idea that without making an effort to protect and preserve true love, it can also be victim to the cruel realities
of the world such as war, destruction, and death.