Fate of Men in Aeneid and Game of Thrones

Men Decided by Fate

George R.R. Martin’s, “Clash of Kings”, and the “Aeneid”, written by Virgil, both share a similar central theme of fate, justice, and revenge.

        The concept of fate is an important and intriguing part of both epics. In “A Clash of Kings”, Maester Cressen watches a red comet fly throughout the sky in Dragonstone and fears it might be an omen that signifies that the winter is coming. Stannis Baratheon, who now declares himself king, has his own representation of what the comet might allude to. He believes the Iron Throne belongs to him, but knows his army stands no chance against the Lannistars and his brother’s vast numbers. The sign of the red comet is symbolic to the red in Stannis’s house banner and is seen as a prophecy for him to rule. Lady Arryn, who is Sannis’s wife, tells her husband the comet will bring victory to their house when she states, “It means your time has come, Your Grace: Nothing is more certain”(Clash of Kings, 18).

        In the “Aeneid”, fate plays a different role than in “A Clash of Kings”. Aeneas is told by Goddess Jupiter of his fate in establishing the Roman Empire, and must reach Italy in order to do so. Fate is the motivator that accompanies the actions of Aeneas throughout this journey. In this sense, Aeneas is ultimately led by fate to kill Turnus in an effort to seal his destiny. Aeneas remains loyal to his destiny and is guided by the gods to his victory in Rome. We can see from this aspect that fate is employed differently with the characters from the two texts; the red comet seen in “A Clash of Kings” is only a prophecy, while the element of fate in the “Aeneid” acts as a motivating force behind Aeneas which stimulates his actions and drives the plot.

        The “Aeneid” is told by an omniscient narrator who talks of a distant past and can look into the minds of characters and gods; in the story, Virgil employs most of the literary and poetic devices associated with epics: journeys, divine intervention, battle scenes, similes and metaphors. Virgil uses vivid imagery when depicting Aeneas’ deathblow on Turnus when he describes him as, “bearing the fury of death, that shaft rips open his corslet’s Rim and the outer-edge of his shield’s seven layers of protection, Screams through the thick of his thigh. And Turnus, felled by the impact”(Vergil.12.924-925). This literary technique adds color to the narrative and helps the audience to picture more clearly the events being described.