Michel de Montaigne’s impact on French literature and cultural identity

John Vespasian explains that Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) left behind ethical guidelines, practical and tangible, but roving and disorderly. Why? Because he cared for finding the path to happiness, but not for the implicit metaphysics, epistemology, politics and aesthetics. Due to his philosophical limitations, Montaigne has exerted a narrow influence on French literature and cultural identity. It would be an exaggeration to claim a vast influence from ideas, values and behavioural models that we can barely characterise. Let us take for instance Montaigne’s essay “On three good women.” Montaigne was in his mid-forties when he wrote this essay. His philosophical views were finalised and complete. In the ensuing decade, they would not evolve one inch. Montaigne’s purpose in this essay is straightforward. He just wants to illustrate virtuous behaviour by using three prominent historical anecdotes. Before speaking of Montaigne’s influence on French literature and cultural identify, let us pass review to those three examples. First, the widow of Ephesus. Her story was immortalised by Petronius (27-66 AD) in his “Satyricon.” Petronius tells us that, when her husband died, she felt such a profound grief that she vowed to lock herself in his tomb and starve to death. However, she changed her mind when she met a handsome Roman soldier near her husband’s tomb. The soldier had been assigned to guard a nearby site. When he saw the widow walk by, he made a pass at her, and soon won her over. Second, a Roman mother whose story has gone down into history as “Roman charity,” as recounted by Valerius Maximus in his “Memorable deeds and sayings” written in 30 AD. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/michel-de-montaignes-impact-on-french-literature-and-cultural-identity/