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Allusion
Explanation and Analysis—Cordial Farewell:
As the men depart for the countryside, Fridrikson wishes them well by alluding to Virgil’s famous line, “Et quacumque viam dederit fortuna sequamur.” This does two things: it demonstrates his refinement and intelligence, and it also foreshadows the approaching disturbances and trials. As they leave, Axel tries to say a heartfelt goodbye:
I launched out a cordial farewell in the best Latin I could find; then we jumped into our saddles, and M. Fridrikson repeated with his last adieux that line of Virgil which seemed to have been made for uncertain travellers on the road, like us: Et quacumque viam dederit fortuna sequamur.
This allusion to the Roman poet Virgil's line from the Aeneid—usually translated as something like “And whatever route fortune gives, we will follow”—is a poignant moment. Fridrikson speaks Latin here partially because it is the only language in which he and Axel can communicate directly. He could have spoken Icelandic or Danish, but instead chooses to address the narrator in a way that includes him.
The phrase itself is from Virgil’s epic poem The Aeneid, which brings the narrative of the poem to mind as the men set off on their journey. In The Aeneid, the protagonist Aeneas embarks on a dangerous journey. After a long and winding path, Aeneas also descends into the underworld and eventually ends up in roughly the same geographic region as Axel does. His travels are filled with unforeseen challenges and adventures, and he has to keep his wits about him in order to avoid disaster. In using this particular line of Virgil’s, Fridrikson not only wishes the travelers well, but also acknowledges the potentially hazardous nature of their expedition. Like Aeneas, there's no guarantee they'll return after trespassing into unknown realms.
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