We've
all lost someone in our lives and it has most definitely been tough to deal
with. Memories resurface from time to time and make adjustment that much more
difficult. Losing someone close or something important to you is a very
emotional experience. Ideally, one should not have to deal with it by oneself.
Yet, in our thoughts, grief and loss we are alone and it is ultimately up to us
to find a way to deal with the grief.
Hector
and Adromache have a very loyal and loving relationship in the Iliad. In book
six, when Hector takes a break from war to shame his coward brother Prince
Paris back into the battle, he visits his wife and little infant son one last
time. He asks around to find them and when he does, Adromache runs up to meet
him, relieved that he is still alive but ever fearful for his safety. They weep
together and Hector's wife begs him to stay out of the war. "My dear
husband, your warlike spirit will be your death," she says. "You've
no compassion for your infant child, for me, your sad wife, who before long
will be your widow." Hector is sad as well and deeply pities his wife, but
he recognizes his duty in war. He will not shun it. He comforts his wife,
blesses his son and prays for his future, and leaves for the battle that will
end in his demise.
Creusa's
fate is dealt with in detail by Virgil in his Aedneid. As
Troy is falling to the Greeks, Aeneas goes to his home to lead his father
Anchises, Creusa, and their son Ascanius out of the city and into the
countryside. Anchises refuses to leave the house, prompting Aeneas to decide
that he will leave to continue the fight against the Greeks so that he may die
in battle. Creusa grabs his feet and begs him to think of what would become of
Ascanius, Anchises and herself if Aeneas were to be killed. As she does this,
Ascanius catches fire with an un-earthly flame. The flame is quickly doused
with water. Anchises believes this to be an omen from Jupiter, who confirms this
omen by sending a shooting star. Anchises now agrees to flee Troy. The family
leaves the home, Aeneas carrying his father and Ascanius holding his hand,
while Creusa is to remain some distance behind them. As they flee through the
city, pursued by Greeks, they reach the gates and begin to run, after noticing
that the Greeks appear to be gaining on them. Creusa is unable to keep up with
them. After reaching the temple outside of the city, Aeneas leaves
Anchises and Ascanius there to go back in search of Creusa. As he searches the
city without success, he meets the ghost of Creusa, who tells him that she may
not leave the city with him. She predicts his journey to Hesperia, Italy and
future marriage to another. She asks that Aeneas take care of their child and
vanishes. Aeneas tries three times to hold her, each time failing to grasp her
wraith.
In Aeneid, Creusa
pleads Aeneas to just stay with her and their son Ascanius and not to take part
in the Trojan War. While in Iliad, Andromache pleads Hector to stay
with her and their baby and not to fight in the Trojan War, too. Both the two
ladies in the poem was left with their sons and experienced to be so sorrowful
without their husband whom they loved. And everybody may think that Hector and
Aeneas may not join the war but for them it's their responsibility and duty for
their land and God.
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