How does R. D. Williams describe Aeneas' nature?

• A. He is a demigod with powers.
• B. He is a villainous figure.
• C. He is a comic figure.
• D. He is an ordinary mortal.

Answer: (D)

R. D. Williams emphasizes Aeneas as a figure defined by human limits and moral struggle rather than by godlike power. He treats Aeneas as mortal—subject to fatigue, doubt, and loss—who nonetheless embodies steadfast duty (pietas) and resilience in the face of fate and divine pressure. This reading highlights how Aeneas achieves his goals through ethical choice and endurance, not through supernatural prowess. The gods push and test him, but his core nature remains distinctly human: a hero whose strength comes from perseverance, responsibility, and the capacity to bear hardship for a larger purpose. That’s why describing him as an ordinary mortal fits Williams’s portrayal, rather than casting him as a villain, a clown, or a demigod with powers.