Aeneid is more relevant to youth since, in his journey to Italy, it is foretold that he would find a second home where he would raise a gracious and audacious race. “The fleet, led by Aeneas, is on a voyage to find a second home. It has been foretold that in Italy, he will give rise to a race both noble and courageous, a race which will become known to all nations” This is a clear indication that he was young enough to raise a generation that will reign the territory of Romans in future (Patrick, 4).
Secondly, this poem is relevant more to the youth as most of the characters are young, like Aeneas, who is being told about the history of the city by his mother, Venus. She encourages him to venture into Juno’s temple, where he gains his favor” The fleet takes shelter on the coast of Africa. There, Aeneas’s mother, Venus, in the form of a hunting woman very similar to the goddess Diana, encourages him and tells him the history of the city. Eventually, Aeneas ventures in, and in the temple of Juno, seeks and gains the favor of Dido, Queen of Carthage”.This is a clear indication that as a youth, Aeneas had to depend on his mother to guide him throughout his journey since he knew nothing about the city.
In her plot to ensure Aeneas captures the city back after people from his race were killed, Venus plots a scheme to rescue her son by sending Cupid half brother to Aeneas to imitate Ascanius, who was to offer guests gifts to Dido, and he offers them on his behalf. Dido fell in love with this boy due to her motherly love, and at long last, she finds herself in love with Aeneas. She really fell in love with him to the point of performing sexual intercourse, although she had sworn fidelity with a soul of her late husband. In this context, the book is talking more about the future of Aeneas and his generation and how her mother was concerned with his success. This is the major reason why she plots schemes to clear the way for him, showing that the future is more on the young generations, and for them to succeed, they have to be shown the way (Patrick, 65).
In books 7-12 which talks more about the war in Italy, most of the participants were youths. Juno, who was heavily involved in causing this war, convinces the Queen of Latium to order Lavinia to be married to Turnus, the king of a local people. This is a clear indication that Lavinia was a young lady who was not married; hence the books are more talking about youths (Patrick, 70).
Aeneas received weapons and armor from Vulcan, including a shield that indicates the future of Rome. It also lays emphasis once again upon the emperors, including Augustus, who was trying to re-introduce traditional Roman moral values, and the Aeneid is thought to reflect that aim. Aeneas was depicted as a man devoted and loyal to his country and its prominence, rather than personal gains since he spends all his energy and time in favor of his future descendants. The two were very young (Patrick, 80).
Palles, who was the son of King Evander, agreed to help Aeneas troops to fight against the other Italians. This is because the youths are more energetic and more organized as compared to the aged (Patrick, 43), Also, in this fight, the book talks about the killing of Camilla, who had fought bravely, but she was killed accidentally.
She was a virgin devoted to Diana. The issue of virginity is more of youths, and therefore the book is talking more of youths than mature people (Patrick, 85). When making his way through the underworld, Aeneas is given a prophecy of the greatness of his imperial descendants, which is a clear indication that the future of the Romans rests on the young generations (Patrick, 180).
In Ramayana, the story describes the society at that time: enormous empires, the life of a prince designed to become the next king, the opposition between mothers and stepmothers, the bond of love and faithfulness between brothers and contests to win the hands of a princess. The major theme of this book is particularly based on the mature generation as it talks more about leadership, the struggles in families, and the effects of love. These qualities are more of mature people than the youths (William, 46).
In addition, the poem still describes how an ethical human being and a leader of men should behave himself at all times, facing situations with composure, rising to occasions to lead his people, self-directed to his own individual tragedies and restrictions, cultivating love and esteem to his community. “Sita decides that her time on the earth is nearing its end and ends her life by asking mother earth to open and swallow her. The sons go to Ayodhya to live with their father until they inherit the kingdom). This poem is giving the qualities expected in a mature leader and that he or she should allow his sons to inherit the kingdoms after their death. The sons went to their father to learn all that pertained to leadership for them to be able to inherit leadership from their father. (William, 66-170).
Rama twins lived in Forest, and they tied a horse that was wandering in the forest without knowing its significance. In those days, the horse was left to wander in the forest in order for any empire to extend its territories. The twins fought against the army accompanied by the horse until they defeated them. This was a clear indication that they were not young but mature enough to lead any given territory. (William, 190).
Reference
Patrick, Dickinson, The Aeneid, Signet Classic, 2002.
William, Buck, Ramayana: [King Rama’s Way], University of California Press, 2000.