The love of Dido and Aeneas: could it have been viable? As we hope to have a long-term relationship, we cannot guarantee its existence or permanence. Some relationships are doomed from the start. The relationship between Dido and Aeneas is an example of this. When Dido and Aeneas begin their relationship, they do not realize how they each perceive their love for each other. Dido perceives their relationship as a marriage, while Aeneas perceives their relationship as something simply sexual. By not understanding their love for each other, their relationship was doomed from the start. Furthermore, their relationship might never have lasted because Aeneas was destined to marry Lavinia and not Dido. Aeneas had to marry Lavinia because it was his duty to ensure the success of Rome. Dido and Aeneas' love was doomed because Dido and Aeneas perceive their love for each other differently and because Aeneas must fulfill his obligations. After Dido and Aeneas sleep together in a cave, she justifies their sexual union as a "marriage," even though the proper ceremonial rites have not been performed. Dido's statement that her sexual union with Aeneas was marriage is notable because she "opposed remarriage/After the death of her first love." (IV, 22-23). By breaking her vow never to remarry, she reveals how much she was in love with Aeneas. Breaking one's vow meant not only betraying one's word, but also betraying the trust of others. She points out to Aeneas his loss of integrity as he prepares to leave for Italy: Have pity now on a house in decline! Put on this plan, I beseech you, if a prayer is not yet moved. Because of you, Libyans and nomads. kings Hate me, my own Tyrians are hostile;Because of you I have lost my integrityAnd ...... middle of paper ......ves. Dido wanted Aeneas to stay by her side so she could have a mate, while Aeneas wanted a fleeting relationship that he could leave to achieve his goals. Because they each had different goals for where they wanted their relationship to go, their love was doomed. Furthermore, Dido and Aeneas' love could never have lasted because it was destined for Aeneas to marry Lavinia and found the city of Rome. As soon as Mercury reminded Aeneas of his duty to fulfill the prophecy of Rome, he left Carthage as quickly as possible, even if it meant leaving the distraught Dido. In Aeneas' action to fulfill his obligations, Virgil emphasizes the importance of duty as it relates to Roman culture. It underlines the universal truth that the fulfillment of one's goals or duties has more priority over temporal relationships. Works cited by Virgil. The Aeneid. Vintage, printed.