Great Works of Literature I, Spring 2020 – Online – Two

Montaigne’s essays

Montaigne’s arguments in The Essays were mostly about social circumstances in France during his time. He looked at what was occurring in France with a negative light. He viewed it as a manipulating order that poisoned the uneducated masses. Everything that was occurring was transferred on to the people around and their decisions. To him, it all seemed like a hopeless and endless cycle. “We know by experience that women transmit marks of their fancies to the bodies of the children they carry in their womb.” He wanted to live in a free-thinking society and thought that if people applied their will, the few standout individuals had the opportunity to break free.

One thought on “Montaigne’s essays”

  1. I agree with what you said also those in control probably hated him. I wonder if anyone tried shutting him up because what he said didn’t benefit them. It must’ve been hard for Montaigne; it was him versus people in power.

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