What's Inside
Michel de Montaigne moves into his chateau tower to escape public life, only to find that an idle mind produces weeds and "lumps of flesh" unless cultivated. He populates these pages with a messy, honest self-portrait, mixing high-minded Stoic philosophy with complaints about his failing memory and the social etiquette of folding letters. The collection skips from the psychology of sorrow to the strategic errors of besieged governors, all while the author insists he is the only subject he truly understands. By examining his own inconsistencies, he builds a case that human certainty is a myth and that most of our misery is self-inflicted by our opinions rather than our circumstances.
Works & figures
- Michel de Montaigne
The author and central subject who examines his own mind and body. (in “The Life of Montaigne”)
- Henry IV
King Henry IV, who receives a letter from the author acknowledging the royal duty of attending to small matters despite the weight of state affairs.
- Mademoiselle Paulmier
A friend to whom the author sends a copy of his book. (in “The Letters of Montaigne”)
- Caelius
A Roman who feigned the gout so well he actually caught it. (in “Not to Counterfeit Being Sick”)
- Estienne de la Boetie
A deceased friend whose sonnets are preserved within the collection. (in “Of Friendship”)
- Claudius
The emperor who allegedly considered an edict allowing flatulence in all places. (in “Essays of Michel de Montaigne”)
What it's really about
- Self-Observation
- The mind must be tethered to a study to avoid extravagances.
- Skepticism
- Human satisfaction is impossible because our desires shift upon attainment.
- Stoic Endurance
- Opinions of things torment men more than the things themselves.
Why it's memorable
- A man pretending to be blind in one eye discovers he has actually lost his sight.
- A main text surrounded by chaotic, improvised margins, much like a painter filling the center of a panel before covering the remaining space with grotesque doodles.
Where to start
Start with 'Of Cannibals' or 'Of Friendship' to see the author's ability to challenge cultural norms and personal devotion.
For your book club
- Is it possible to truly know oneself if the mind is inherently 'tumultuary and indiscreet'?
- Does the author’s focus on his own trivialities make him more or less relatable to a reader?