Relationship Between the Gods and the Fates

    The gods of Olympus, who control all elements of the physical world and manipulate humans to act in their interest, are not strangers to their hierarchy of authority. Their control of earth and sky portrays an image of all-encompassing might, but in reality they, too, are subject to a higher power. Throughout the Aeneid, the Fates are referenced repeatedly as the beings that establish the deaths and ultimate destinations of humans. These three beings possess the authority to write the end of a story, but the gods are able to interact with the process, changing the course of events to fulfill their individual wants on the path to fated destinations. Although we see that the gods and Fates are always working together, it is evident that the gods are aware of the higher power that the Fates possess. Therefore, whatever destinies the Fates have chosen for the people are never altered leaving the end result the will of the Fates.

    Although the Fates and the gods play separate roles throughout the story, they work together in harmony to fulfill a purpose. Rather than engaging in a struggle for power, these two groups acknowledge and respect each other and play their own parts in the course of human events. This relationship is illustrated during Venus and Jove’s conversation concerning the Rutilian’s war against the Trojans. As Venus pleads for Ascanius’ safety, she asks how “anyone [can] overturn [Jove’s] edicts now and plant the Fates anew,” (294) strongly implying a unified purpose between Jove and the Fates. Their is an implied unison of understanding between the gods and the Fates of who the final decision maker would be and who would carry out the events in order for the final outcome to play out.

    Another example of this relationship between the gods and the Fates is demonstrated when the gods show respect to the Fates, acknowledging their elevated status. The deities recognize the hierarchy of authority and defer to the Fates when questions of ultimate destiny are concerned. For example, after the Berecynthian Mother of Gods asks Jove to give her ships indestructible powers, Jove responds by asking “Mother, what are you asking Fate to grant?” (269) Jove establishes a definitive line between his authority and that of the Fates. This shows that although the Fates and gods do work in unison, the Fates are the ones who ultimately choose the outcome of the events that unfold. The gods however decide how the outcome is played out.

    The close relationship demonstrated between the Fates and the Gods functions smoothly due to the specific roles each group plays. While the Fates determine the ultimate outcome of events, gods are able to control the means to that end. Turnus demonstrates this relationship after the Trojan ships turn into nymphs, rallying his troops by declaring, “Let it be quite enough for Fate and Venus both that the Trojans reach the rich green land of Italy.” (271) While Fate established the Trojans’ ultimate destination, Venus was involved in the details of this process. They work as a team to get the job done and the way that I interpret it is the Fates are like the leaders who make decisions and the gods are their Workman who cause their plan to be fulfilled.

    The idea of a joint hierarchy is a tough topic to understand, but when looking at it in the point of view of unison through a type of team work is easier to grasp. Throughout the entire book we are challenged with understanding the unique relationship between the gods and Fates and how their relationship relates to the final result of a person's destiny. There are multiples examples of evidence proving that the Fates and god's work in harmony, however the gods do not control the Fates, and while the gods control immediate details of situations, the Fates decide ultimate outcomes.