Copy Cat
Ok, so I know that someone else has to see this. Is it just me, or is this book basically a jumbled up version of several other books such as the Odessey and Iliad. I mainly see this in the second parts of the book. There were some correlations between the Aeneid and Agamemnon in the very beginning chapters, but Virgil played it off as if it was a backstory giving a reference. But getting into some of these later books, you can really see the similarities; it just seems to be from a different viewpoint at times.
So, I am reading this book, and knowing me it is probably really late when I was reading, and I said surely I am reading this wrong. So I did some further research. Sometimes when I don't really understand what I am reading I will find an audiobook to read along with and then watch some summary and analysis videos to hear other people's POV. Well each video I watched, the narrators talked about how much of a rip-off this book is from the others. One girl I listened to made me laugh. She said, "I don't know what's worse, the fact Virgil openly copied these other writings (especially the Iliad), or the fact that we just overlook it and praise him for being such a good writer. "
I think this version of the story does give us a little more detail and looks into the other side; however, I am sure in all of ancient Rome, there was something else to write about.
On a whole different spectrum... Can we talk about how much I love Virgil for betraying strong women? So we saw earlier in the book the story of the strong queen who all these men were afraid of and obeyed; well now we have another girl that seems to be pretty tough. Her name is Camilla. The book doesn't give us too much information about her except the fact she is a strong female warrior who was raised in the woods. But just the fact he mentioned her makes me really happy. Despite the opinions of other writers, maybe women aren't the root of all the evils...
PS: I commented on Moriah and Zane's posts
So, I am reading this book, and knowing me it is probably really late when I was reading, and I said surely I am reading this wrong. So I did some further research. Sometimes when I don't really understand what I am reading I will find an audiobook to read along with and then watch some summary and analysis videos to hear other people's POV. Well each video I watched, the narrators talked about how much of a rip-off this book is from the others. One girl I listened to made me laugh. She said, "I don't know what's worse, the fact Virgil openly copied these other writings (especially the Iliad), or the fact that we just overlook it and praise him for being such a good writer. "
I think this version of the story does give us a little more detail and looks into the other side; however, I am sure in all of ancient Rome, there was something else to write about.
On a whole different spectrum... Can we talk about how much I love Virgil for betraying strong women? So we saw earlier in the book the story of the strong queen who all these men were afraid of and obeyed; well now we have another girl that seems to be pretty tough. Her name is Camilla. The book doesn't give us too much information about her except the fact she is a strong female warrior who was raised in the woods. But just the fact he mentioned her makes me really happy. Despite the opinions of other writers, maybe women aren't the root of all the evils...
PS: I commented on Moriah and Zane's posts
I can definitely see what you mean about Virgil being a copy-cat; though I’m sure the Romans wanted this story told to better favor Roman history than Greek history. Yes, and amen to Camilla’s story being mentioned! Just the fact that Virgil says her name is impressive, but to write about her in such a great light is amazing. I’m such a fan haha
ReplyDeleteThe similarities between this writing and the Greek stories are too astronomical to ignore. It's interesting to me how entire sections could line up and yet no one cares how similar they are? Where do we draw the line between re-telling and plagiarism? Why is it acceptable in this text? It's a very thin line to walk and I'm excited to see what over similarities we'll find as we read.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Virgil was a copycat. But technically all of Roman mythology is a copied and stamped "better" version of Greek mythology, because let's face it- Romans were educated in Athens. This lack of originality really bugs me, especially considering the fact that these people claimed to be the best of the best. If you are what the world considers the best of the best, would you really have to send your people out of YOUR country for an education? I think not.
ReplyDeleteyeah its kinda amusing to see how many times romans take something greek and call it something different and say its roman. however, as for aeneis, we can see that he is portrayed as a strong independant trojan who dont need no woman.
ReplyDeletespencer