Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius Analysis

Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius, a Roman scholar and philosopher, was born towards the end of fifth century. He was famous for his Consolation of Philosophy, in which he writes about achieving happiness through desire for knowledge and love for God. (Encyclopædia Britannica) In the selection provided, Boethius writes that he is no longer inspired to write happy poems, rather his old age has him express unhappiness in his writing. He writes death enjoys coming to those who are happy and refuses the cries if those who are desperate to face it. While he was writing his sad poetry, a woman appeared over him. She had and appearance of a wise person and had books and a scepter in her hands. The woman was angered that the muses were giving him sad inspirations, making his sorrows worse instead of cheering his up. The woman sends the muses away, and will have her own muses care for him. The women sat next to him and told …show more content…
He was brought up by knowledge, thus wisdom is his weapon. He does not recognize who the woman is. She placed her hand on him and says that he will remember her after she clears up the cloud darkening his eyes. She wipes his eyes with her robe, he can see the light again. His grief dispersed, he could recognize the woman. It was Philosophy that he recalled from his early years. He asked her why she came to him while he is being banished, if it was because he was falsely accused. She replied that she came to share his fate because he is in this situation due to Philosophy. She reminds his that he is not the first to face similar fate, there was Socrates and his followers Plato, Epicurus and other Stoics who all struggled for her. She mentions several others who suffered for Philosophy. The majority is not guided by Reason, rather by desires.

1. For what philosophical ideas was Boethius banished for?
2. Does he talk about God and religion or only philosophy throughout the