In Book IV of Virgil's Aeneid, the messenger of the gods Mercury warns the hero Aeneas that "One thing that is always uncertain and inconstant is woman" (IV.768-7). As Aeneas makes his journey from the ruins of Troy to the potential glory of Latium, he discovers this as he meets several women he might marry, a decision based largely on whether they justify or disprove Mercury's claim. Dido and Anna, the women of Carthage, reflect the fickleness that Mercury speaks of, while Creusa, the Trojan wife of Aeneas, Queen Amata of Carthage and the Volscan warrior Camilla refute his theory with their constant behavior. None of these women are destined to become Aeneas's wife due to their strength, social status, or race, so it is evident that a woman who separates herself from the others is destined and appropriate to fill this role. Although Lavinia princess of Latium is portrayed with very little character development in the Aeneid, her passivity and unquestioning obedience in addition to her race and royal status illustrate her suitability as an ideal Roman wife and queen for Aeneas. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Dido ruler of Carthage almost becomes the wife of Aeneas, but is immediately deemed inappropriate for Aeneas. In her first appearance in the novel, she is overseeing the construction of her city and is described as having tasks traditionally fulfilled by a man, such as "making judgments... making laws, [and] apportioning the work." Although initially portrayed as overly masculine, Aeneas reveals later in the novel that she performed a very marital duty: making clothes, saying that "happy in that task, [she] had once made for him [twin tunic] from her own hands” (XI.96-7). Despite this achievement, which is not revealed until nearly ten books after her death, Dido still cannot be Aeneas's wife largely because of her persistent inconstancy in all her behavior in the novel, Dido proves excessively susceptible to his fury when she renounces her "certain, immovable resolution to marry no one" (IV.17-8) and falls in love with Aeneas. When once "in her joy... she urged the 'work of his kingdom to come" (I.710-11), now abandons him, leaving him "neglected" (IV.118), overwhelmed by the frenzy and fire in his heart. Furthermore, "he begins to speak, then falters and stops halfway" (IV.110-1) demonstrating an inconstancy in his dialogue. She then decides that her relationship with Aeneas is no longer a "furtive love. Dido calls it marriage" (IV.226-7) even though she knows it is nothing more than adultery against her husband's memory and against her city. His most erratic actions, however, are triggered when he discovers Aeneas' plan to leave Carthage. At this moment, she who "deigned to join him" (IV.254) now "attacks" (IV.409) Aeneas. She first begs, "Nothing can hold you" (IV.412) then tells him, "I do not refute your words. I will not hold you" (IV.519-20) only to tell Anna later, "If he would only grant... this last gift of waiting" (IV.590-1). This capriciousness, fueled by fate, makes Dido's personality too unstable for a man with enough burdens on his shoulders. Dido's sister Anna displays similar traits when she first solicits Dido's love, saying "How can you fight against a love that is so acceptable?" (IV.48-9) and then blames Dido alone for her actions by declaring, "You have destroyed yourself and me... and all your city" (IV.939-42). This inconstancy, while important, is only part of the reason why neither Carthaginian princess should be Aeneas's bride. Being native to Northern Africa, they aregeographically and culturally opposed to the Trojan race of Aeneas, which mates better with a European people such as the Latins. Both women also foolishly attempt to thwart the will of fate, when Anna hopes that Aeneas will marry Dido and when Dido tries to convince Aeneas to stay despite both knowing that her journey does not end in Carthage, as Aeneas has told her of the prophecy of his wife that he will "reach Hesperia" (II.1054) and there he will have a new wife and a kingdom. Although Dido and Anna are very strong cases of capricious women, there are others who, despite their constancy, are still unfit to be Aeneas' founding companions. Creusa, the once loving wife of Aeneas, for example, is portrayed with steadfast loyalty and understanding of what is best for her husband and the future of Rome. She declares her love for him, calling him her "sweet husband" (II.1046) and while her voice of reason explains to him why they cannot be together by saying, "this could never happen without the decree of the gods" (II. 1048-9). Creusa knows what fate awaits her husband and is even eager for him to fulfill it without trying to interfere. Rather she accepts fate and is instead proud of her role on Earth as "a Dardanian woman and wife of the son of Venus" (II.1061-2) and is grateful to the gods that she "sees not the haughty houses of the Myrmidons"... or be the slave of the Greek matrons" (II.1058-61) as a prisoner of war. She is, in the words of Aeneas, "happy" (XI.205) to sacrifice herself in the name of Rome. Creusa is the Roman woman par excellence : unconditionally loyal, loving, pious and submissive to the gods, reasonable, altruistic and understanding of her role. Except that she is a Trojan, and Aeneas' destiny is not to found another settlement of Trojans but a completely new race, which cannot be produced from pure Trojan blood. Like Creusa, Queen Amata is also constant, but in all the wrong ways. She is unswervingly faithful to her country and her will to make Turnus her son-in-law, crying with her husband: "Lavinia. will she become the wife of the Trojan exiles?" (VII.474-5). Her devotion to Turnus is so intense that it drives her to suicide, as Beloved "prepared to die, she held her furious son-in-law close" (XII.76-7) , declares to Turnus that "what awaits you, awaits me also" (XII.84-5). Consequently, when she believes that Turnus is dead, she kills herself, foolishly shouting that "she herself is guilty" (XII.806) when she should accept that it was not she but fate that caused her death. He is also always disobedient to his spouse; although he "stands firm against her" (VII.497), she hides Lavinia in the mountains, "stealing the Trojan's marriage" (VII.515-6). Although it could be argued that her hysterical behavior is caused by Allecto "breathing her viper's breath in her frenzy" (VII.464), Virgil states that Allecto merely reinforces the feelings Beloved already has within her: "a woman's anxieties and anger" (VII.455-6). Although she shows consistent behavior in disobedience to her husband and loyalty to Turnus, her madness and total hatred for the Trojans do not allow her to be a suitable match for Aeneas. Another Latina, Camilla the warrior, displays some qualities of an ideal Roman woman, namely those of loyalty to her male leader (in her case, Turnus) and of self-sacrifice, as she dies for his cause. She is also very brave and proud, asking Turnus to "Let me experience the first dangers of war" (XI.665-6) and telling a Tuscan upon his death: "This is no small glory... to have fallen under the Camilla's spearhead" (XI.908-10). Even in her own death she shows strength when "dying, [she] tries to draw out with her hand the spear [that struck her chest]" (XI.1081-3). Although she is portrayed favorably in the Aeneid, extolled by Turnus.