Fate and Free Will in the Aeneid

In reading the Aeneid a question I had about the role Fate and the gods was if Fate is the highest power that rules over all the gods including Jupiter or if instead, Jupiter is an all-powerful being and that rules over Fate? Is the will of Jupiter is the same as that of Fate or are they independent of each other? The following is my attempt at addressing these questions. The first time we read about Jupiter is when he is described as looking down on everything and turning his gaze towards the events in Libya and Aeneas. We are told that while he is looking down on the events he is taking “the troubles there to heart”.

I find it interesting here that he is described here as being anxious. As the king of the gods, he must surely know what the Fates have in store Aeneas so why would be worried if Fate is inevitable? Is this point where we see that Fate may not be secured or could it be because sees that it is his responsibility to help Aeneas achieve it? I’m not sure. Jupiter then smiles and reassures Venus that her child’s destiny is still intact despite the fact that he was just moments ago showing some sort of concern. But, is Jupiter’s will the same as that of the Fates? If we look at again at the passage mentioned above in Book 1:257, Venus complains to Jupiter about how Aeneas and his men are suffering, and Jupiter replies saying: “Don’t worry your children’s destiny has not been changed” and then a few lines later says that “Nothing swerves my will once uttered.” (1: 261).

This seems to suggest that Jupiter’s and Fates’ will are aligned. There are several cases where the gods attempt to prevent or delay the Fates. However, the same cannot be said for Jupiter because his will and the will of the Fates are in agreement. Then if Jupiter is only the one carrying out the will of the Fates, then the many blame made against him in the passage above and elsewhere are misdirected. Nonetheless, it is not always obvious which the greater power is. On occasion, Jupiter appears to be the orchestrator of the Fates. If we look at book 3:375 the priest says that 'The Lord God deals out destiny so and turns the wheel of change'.

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The Fates are not the ones that are in control here but it is in fact, Jupiter. He is the one in control and turning the wheel of Fate and dealing out the destiny to others. We can also see another example that is similar to this when Jupiter is portrayed as being the one in control of the device of the Fates in book 12 when he holds the scales to decide the Fates of Aeneas and Turnus. While we can view this as an instance where Jupiter seems to be the one in control, it can also be said that after whatever power is in charge of deciding which scale tips has been chosen the Fate then Jupiter has no option but to obey. Even so, we can still see that some part of the power is in Jupiter's hands.

The power of Jupiter and Fates can be seen if we look at book 4:110 where Venus says to Juno “Fortune is on the side of your proposal. The Fates here are perplexing: would one city satisfy Jupiter’s will for Tyrians and Trojan exiles?' This same power is implied in Venus's question back in book 1:241: “When shall these labors cease, O glorious King?” and Jupiter's reply “The effort each man makes to these I give no bounded times or power, but empire without end” (1:279). As said previously Jupiter is the one manages the operations of Fate; however, the Fates cannot be understood as arising from him.

If we look at how Jupiter refuses to favor Trojans or Turnus’ army despite the appeals of Venus and Juno we are able to regard Fate as being independent to Jupiter. The most significant passage in regards to the connection Jupiter has to Fate is in the speech he gives to the other gods where he says: “Lords of the open sky, why this reversion to old thoughts and aims and bitter strife again? I had forbidden Italy to engage in war with Trojans” (10:10). Hence we see that the events happening are not in agreement with Jupiter’s will. Despite the fact that he did not want a war between Italians and the Trojans it is going to happen. He ends his speech by proclaiming his own independent outlook and giving responsibility to the Fates saying: “But of his own attempt let each the triumph and the burden bear; for Jove is overall an equal King.

The Fates will find the way”. (10:155) Here, he is saying that being king of the gods means that he is king everywhere, no matter who wins the upcoming war. Further, in the latter part of his speech he is admitting to his incapability to interfere in what was already been dictated, of which he had no part in and did not want to happen, to occur. Then this may mean that the statement made earlier about Jupiter’s will being aligned to the will Fates may not be true at least not in this case. But, even if his will is not in accordance with that of Fate, he is bound to them. Fate knows the future and Jupiter seems to know it to the extent that the Fates have revealed to him. We see this in the instance mentioned earlier where he reveals to Venus what Fate has is in store for Aeneas in order to comfort her worries.

This knowledge of the future does not seem to be limited to just Jupiter however. For as we are told in the in the first book one of the reasons for Juno’s rage is because she knows that if Aeneas founds Rome then that will lead to Carthage being destroyed. Despite all her best efforts, however, she does not manage to stop Aeneas from fulfilling his destiny. The authority that Fate has is above the ability of the gods to stop. Throughout the Aeneid we see Juno and Juno defying Jupiter on several occasions. We see Juno going directly against Jupiter’s decree, Venus too goes against him by falling into Juno’s trap and making Aeneas and Dido fall in love leading him to almost forget his mission.

Therefore, it is hard to say that the above cases prove Jupiter’s final will. The fact that we are able to see freedom of will in the gods does not mean Jupiter’s decree is final. Fate all ways finds a way in the end but we can’t conclusively say that this means that Jupiter’s will coming into fruition. Another god whose relationship to Fate I want to briefly examine is that of Juno. Despite knowing that Aeneas is Fated to found Rome, we see her illogically trying to thwart it and give Aeneas as much trouble as possible. It is not her rage that makes Aeneas and his crew wander from sea to sea but is in fact “their destiny drove them on from one sea to the next: so hard and huge, A task it was to found the Roman people” (1:47).

Ironically what the Juno wanted and what destiny had in store for Aeneas was the same. Further in book 1: 278 Jupiter says “Juno, who now chastiseth land and sea with her dread frown, will find a wiser way, and at my sovereign side protect and bless the Romans… Such my decree!” If we grant that in this case the decree or will of Jupiter is the same as that of Fates it would mean that the eventual change we see in Juno’s attitude was a part of Fate.

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