How does Aeneas present himself and his people in Book 2 of the Aeneid?

The second book of Virgil's Aeneid is the account of the sack of Troy from Aeneas' point of view. Since Aeneas is the narrator, the characterisation of him and his men is particularly interesting because it demonstrates the way in which Virgil intended his future founder of the Roman race to portray himself in the face of adversity. As a result Virgil is able to emphasise the bravery of the Trojans in contrast with the …

…Aeneas and his men show that they have truly endured a great deal, and that they did not simply gain without pain. Virgil obviously intend this presentation for two reasons: to give Dido more reason to fall in love with Aeneas who is anxious to impress her with his martial exploits and care for his family; and to provoke the reader in to believing that a truly heroic and deserving man founded the Roman race.