Bakewell How To Live Sparknotes

“How to live” is a common question one asks themselves continuously throughout their existence. Montaigne was no different to this contemplation of life which he cautiously brainstormed, he would study great writers in his quest for answers on how to truly thrive in this world. Although he read many pieces of literature that influenced his awareness, there were still had many considerations left unresolved. Bakewell’s book “How to Live; A Life of Montaigne” examines the question of “How to live” and associates Montaigne’s concepts within his writing. The main ideas that bakewell investigates in the first few chapters of her book are: being born, paying attention, reading a lot, and death. Montaigne’s own essays cover various themes in which …show more content…
Bakewell also illustrates Montaigne’s childhood and the key point events that transpired throughout his lifetime. From these pivotal events noted, Montaigne’s thoughts and ideas were deeply influenced, many of which would later be explored throughout his collection of essays. Born into a wealthy family that relied on trade and politics, Montaigne’s childhood can be described as anything but ordinary. Montaigne's father took an unusual approach to raise the young boy. “The unusual treatment began soon after birth, when Micheau was sent to live with a humble family in a nearby village” (Bakewell, How To Live: A Life of Montaigne). His notion was to make young Montaigne comprehend how commoners lived their lives. It was deemed strange (who was it deemed strange by? This is good for expanding this sentence) but Montaigne’s affection for his father didn’t cast any doubt on the matter. Succeeding his return to …show more content…
He went from reading “Metamorphoses” in his youth to reading one of his favorite writers Plutarch, Montaigne’s imagination slowly came along. One of Bakewell’s answer to How to Live? Is to read a lot, forget most of what you read, and be slow-witted. From a young age Montaigne dove nose deep into most books. Metamorphoses by Ovid is the first book that seized Montaigne’s imagination, from the ancient gods, to the monsters they turn into. Reading was a significant part of his life. But with reading originates forgetfulness. Montaigne always identified within his essays that this remembrance is not the greatest. “There is nobody less suited than I am to start talking about memory. I can hardly find a trace if it in myself” (Montaigne, On Liars). Working in the Bordeaux Parlement, Montaigne’s disinterest and bad memory failed him. His disinterest had led him at times of being suspected of lying. Lying and memory go hand and hand with Montaigne’s judgment. In order to be a great liar, once must have a great memory. Having a fragile memory nevertheless did not stop Montaigne from reading countless pieces of