Author: Liu Xu (Irene)

Louise Labe mentions that love can drives people insane and makes them sick, and it can cause intense confusion for lover. For example, the main character was having an emotional rollercoaster, one moment she is dreaming and admiring her lover, and the next moment she is crying and hating her lover. She is constantly contradicting her feelings toward her lover, yet she cannot control or stop these feelings. Louise shows us the ugly side of love, which it can be an unpleasant experience. As a result, love can make people lose sight of who they are, and they develop obsession over their lover.

Montaigne states that imaginations are extremely powerful, it can be beneficial or harmful to you. In addition, we should be able to manage or limit our imagination instead of resist, the more we resist the worse it gets. Montaigne mentions in the passage that the doctor had an illness, and the only way to cure this illness is via imagination. For example, his illness is getting better just by seeing Montaigne, or thinking about his youth memoires. Hence, imagination can be faith and brings hope to our life if we use it properly. In contrast, Montaigne mentions that imagination can also makes us feel extremely uncomfortable, such as sweating, tremble, turning pale, red, or feeling agitated because of our desires are unmet. Hence, imagination can trigger negativity if we are controlled by the insatiable desire, it makes us feel like we are not good enough if we don’t meet our desires.

In my point of view, Tityrus and Meliboeus have very different character trait. For instance, Tityrus is simple, contented and stubborn; whereas Meliboeus is eager, driven and realistic. As we can see from the book that Tityrus is willing to stay at his land and grateful for what he has ever since he is a little kid. He thinks that being a shepherd is god’s will which it shows his stubbornness; According to the book, Tityrus said ‘… there was never a hope of freedom …’ he thinks that there’s no hope for him to escape, Hence, it is better to be grateful than complaining. In contrast, Meliboeus have been trying to convince Tityrus to leave the land and go find a new land for them. He thinks that Tityrus has been missing out all other great lands, such as the sacred springs, willow blossoms … Also, he believes that sooner or later the war will destroy everything Tityrus has now. Hence, Meliboeus is a man who speaks his mind and he is very realistic. This is very similar as the characteristic in modern-day, there are people who are not willing to change, and they are comfortable of where they are. Hence, he is grateful of what he has and set in his way. Whereas people like Meliboeus in modern-day are mostly entrepreneur and they’re eager to learn more, and not willing to settle down for less. Also, they’re realistic when facing problems.