Final Answer:
Aeneas kills Turnus at the end of the Aeneid to win the hand of Lavinia and take control of the kingdom of the Latins.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the climactic finale of the Aeneid, Aeneas confronts Turnus in a duel that symbolizes the culmination of the epic's themes. The conflict arises from a prophecy indicating that Lavinia, the daughter of Latin King Latinus, is destined to marry a foreigner. This prophecy sets the stage for a power struggle between Aeneas, the Trojan hero, and Turnus, the leader of the Rutuli and a contender for Lavinia's hand. Aeneas, driven by a sense of duty and guided by divine intervention, engages in a intense one-on-one battle with Turnus.
The killing of Turnus by Aeneas signifies the resolution of this conflict, securing Aeneas' victory in both love and politics. It embodies the broader theme of fate and destiny prevalent throughout the Aeneid, emphasizing the inevitability of Rome's founding and Aeneas' role in fulfilling this destiny.
This act, rooted in both personal and cosmic significance, solidifies Aeneas as the heroic founder of Rome and underlines the divine forces shaping the course of history. Virgil skillfully employs this dramatic conclusion to convey the interplay between individual agency and predetermined fate, adding depth and complexity to the narrative.