Montaigne believes that fear arises from want of judgment as well as from want of courage. Fear can cause people make wrong decisions and ultimately lead to danger. When faced with danger, a man must maintain his judgment and not let fear dominates his body. Less fear generally means less danger. Montaigne also writes that fear has some influence on human imagination. This imagination from fear can bring disease and pain to people. Fear has a great impact on people’s body and mind.
Author: FENG CHEN
How does Pizan respond to male authors’ depiction of women in her work?
The Book of the City of Ladies begins with Christine’s criticism of the male authors’ works. Christine believes that women are often maliciously attacked by men. Many male authors use lies and vicious opinions to condemn women and intentionally make women inferior to men. Then Pizan shows readers the great achievements made by women in the past. Pizan also introduces the stories of some intelligent, courageous and virtuous women to readers. Pizan wants readers to know that women and men are equal. People should not easily believe the biased views of male authors against women.
What is Augustine’s commentary on the learned people and his fellow students in Carthage?
Augustine describes the students in Carthage are gross and beyond all measure. Those students commit many outrages, extraodinarily stupid acts, deserving the punishment of the law. They blindly do something which make themselves to be suffered. Augustine also refers some students as eversores. Eversores is a diabolical name for those who are assailing newcomer with cruel mockery for no reason. Augustine thinks what the eversores do is very like the actions of devils and he does not want to be one of them.
What kind of commentary on justice does the trilogy (especially the third play) contain?
The ancient goddesses believe that vengeance is a part of justice. The Furies want to punish Orestes by whatever means necessary. On the other hand, Athena does not want to solve the dispute by revenge. Athena tries to devise a new conept of justice. Under Athena’s judicial system, Orestes needs to be tried by a jury, not by revenge. Justice can be achieved through the courts, not through personal vengeance.