The Aeneid

When Aeneas declares that he is leaving Dido to return back to Italy to protect his country, Dido is outraged. This is another common story that we hear even today, related to war and fighting for your country as well as other reasons people split. In this story, Aeneas is telling Dido that he is not out of love with her, but that his country is more important, he says, "There is my love; There is my country," (P.664). Right before this, he says something to spite Dido, which reads, "Do not think I meant to be deceitful and slip away. I never held the torches of a bridegroom, never entered upon the pact of marriage. If fate permitted me to spend my fays by my own lights, and make the best of things according to my wishes, first of all I should look after Troy and the loved relics left me of my people," (P.664). He triggered her into a mad frenzy by saying that their marriage wasn't official enough for him, so it wasn't enough to keep him with her when he felt like his country needed him. She ends up responding to him by questioning why she should try to sympathize with him and understand his position when he didn't even bat an eye while she was weeping and in obvious pain over his news. He ends up feeling bad for this, and realizes that he still loves her and wants to comfort her, but he doesn't think it is the right thing to do. I feel like this situation was a lot of miscommunication, and with the help of rumor, he felt like he was needed somewhere else that didn't involve the woman he loved. So many couples make this mistake, it is one of my greatest fears in my relationship is that someday we will misunderstand each other and tear us part. Lies and miscommunication is a human problem and it's hard to get around in any relationship when another human's feelings play part in your daily choices.