More Questions than Answers
Of Solitude raises questions more than it provides answers:
· Can’t Montaignes’s advice, to withdraw into oneself, even “in the midst of cities and the courts of kings”, be taken regardless of one’s particular whereabouts? In other words, why is it necessary to withdraw from society, and forego contact with others, in order to achieve the peace of mind, and inner dialogue, that Montaigne advocates?
· Can’t one remain devoted to good work, or good works, yet forego ego and ambition? At the end of Middlemarch, George Eliot tells us that the “growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts [and] half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life….” In advising us to sequester ourselves, and remove ourselves entirely from the world, isn’t Montaigne foreclosing the ability of some to contribute to the greater good? Is that really the kind of world he wants for us?
· Is he serious in advising us not to develop such strong attachments to family and loved ones that our happiness depends on them? What’s better, commitment with risk of loss or no commitment and no risk of loss? Montaignes’s advice reminds me of the people who deny themselves all of life’s pleasures, so they can live longer. But without life’s pleasures, what are they living for?
·So much in Of Solitude makes such good sense – “my sovereign request to God that he make me content with myself”, and “What you must seek is no longer that the world should talk of you, but how you should talk to yourself.” I wonder if Montaigne isn’t overstating his position for dramatic effect. Instead of just giving us good advice, he challenges us with to leave the world entirely and retire into ourselves. But does he really mean that, or is he just being instructive?
·Alternatively, is this advice for old folks? Is Montaigne really telling us how to prepare for our demise? “[A]ge having of late robbed me of those pleasures that were more to my fancy, I train and sharpen my appetite for those that remain and are more suitable to this present season of my life.” If indeed, Montaigne is really speaking from the vantage point of advanced years, with advice primarily for getting old and frail, what was hyperbole becomes merely practical advice for that particular stage of life.
· Can’t Montaignes’s advice, to withdraw into oneself, even “in the midst of cities and the courts of kings”, be taken regardless of one’s particular whereabouts? In other words, why is it necessary to withdraw from society, and forego contact with others, in order to achieve the peace of mind, and inner dialogue, that Montaigne advocates?
· Can’t one remain devoted to good work, or good works, yet forego ego and ambition? At the end of Middlemarch, George Eliot tells us that the “growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts [and] half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life….” In advising us to sequester ourselves, and remove ourselves entirely from the world, isn’t Montaigne foreclosing the ability of some to contribute to the greater good? Is that really the kind of world he wants for us?
· Is he serious in advising us not to develop such strong attachments to family and loved ones that our happiness depends on them? What’s better, commitment with risk of loss or no commitment and no risk of loss? Montaignes’s advice reminds me of the people who deny themselves all of life’s pleasures, so they can live longer. But without life’s pleasures, what are they living for?
·So much in Of Solitude makes such good sense – “my sovereign request to God that he make me content with myself”, and “What you must seek is no longer that the world should talk of you, but how you should talk to yourself.” I wonder if Montaigne isn’t overstating his position for dramatic effect. Instead of just giving us good advice, he challenges us with to leave the world entirely and retire into ourselves. But does he really mean that, or is he just being instructive?
·Alternatively, is this advice for old folks? Is Montaigne really telling us how to prepare for our demise? “[A]ge having of late robbed me of those pleasures that were more to my fancy, I train and sharpen my appetite for those that remain and are more suitable to this present season of my life.” If indeed, Montaigne is really speaking from the vantage point of advanced years, with advice primarily for getting old and frail, what was hyperbole becomes merely practical advice for that particular stage of life.
posted by pops | 10:20 PM
1 Comments:
i wish i had the time to better articulate my understanding of this essay, but i'll just list a few of my observations.
montaigne seems to be questioning his own decision to withdraw from society in order to write ... and argues the merits of withdrawing from the world in order to gain glory. now that i'm back in school, i struggle with the idea of staying away from my friends in order to get work done. striking a balance between the two is difficult, but pretty much my biggest concern at the moment.
i feel the essay is poorly titled, because it doesn't deal with solitude on the whole, but rather a certain kind of solitude relating to old age. i have no intention to widthdraw from society at this age, but instead seek solitude as a way to cool out between social interactions.
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