In Saint Augustine’s Confessions, Augustine ponders his worldly experiences and how they prompted him to lead a more spiritual life. Throughout his divine expedition towards God, Augustine is faced with four deaths at varying ages and religious mentalities. The extent of Augustine’s religiousness at the time of each death greatly shaped the way he perceived every loss he faced. From when he reads about Dido’s death in Virgil’s Aeneid to witnessing the death of his mother, Monica, Augustine’s reaction to death matures. Additionally, as Augustine reflects on his response the deaths, there is a clear contrast between his perception of each loss as the protagonist versus as the author that is influenced by the relationship he develops with God
…show more content…
1.21). However, despite his Catholic upbringing, Augustine was not as religious or inspired to build a relationship with God as he wishes he had been. This frustration Augustine has with his younger self is apparent within his commentary upon revisiting reading the death of Dido. As Augustine recounts his feelings of great sadness for Dido’s death, his tone exudes an apparent sense of disgust at his young self. In his present state Augustine is frustrated that his so-called “fruitful literary education” served as a distraction from him pursuing a relationship with God (Conf. 1.21). Ultimately, Augustine blames his youthful foolishness and his own lack of awareness for delaying his spiritual journey as he addresses God, “I abandoned you to pursue the lowest things of your creation” (Conf. 1.21). This explicit statement of regret proves the distinction between Augustine as the protagonist versus as the author. Augustine’s initial grief as he read about the death of Dido is ultimately juxtaposed with his definite indifference towards the fatality and apathy towards …show more content…
Augustine’s newfound love for God even overshadows the loss of his son. As Augustine reflects upon the memory of his son, it is evident that he removes himself from the experience. Within the text, Augustine’s recollection of his son is barely one page long and does not speak to how he felt about Adeodatus’ death, but instead his life. Augustine withdrawing himself from the situation seems to be a product of the brevity to which Adeodatus is acknowledged at all. Even as Augustine praises his son’s “intelligence [that] left [him] awestruck” and goes on to say he “[recalls] him with no anxiety” with “nothing to fear in his boyhood or adolescence or indeed his manhood,” he remains superficial in his nostalgic reminiscence (Conf. 9.14). Augustine speaks only to Adeodatus’ ability whereas with his friend and even Dido he expressed sadness over their loss. This subtle diminishing of their relationship can be attributed to the way Augustine sees Adeodatus as his “natural son begotten of [his] sin,” a manifestation of past impiety (Conf. 9.14). The death of Adeodatus was, in turn, the death of Augustine’s sin over which he expresses no grief. The death of Adeodatus also appears to be an outlier due to the absence of Augustine’s usual authorial commentary. Since Augustine is usually overcome with grief in accordance with the deaths he encounters, as he recalls his emotions he can speak to their unnecessary
1.21). However, despite his Catholic upbringing, Augustine was not as religious or inspired to build a relationship with God as he wishes he had been. This frustration Augustine has with his younger self is apparent within his commentary upon revisiting reading the death of Dido. As Augustine recounts his feelings of great sadness for Dido’s death, his tone exudes an apparent sense of disgust at his young self. In his present state Augustine is frustrated that his so-called “fruitful literary education” served as a distraction from him pursuing a relationship with God (Conf. 1.21). Ultimately, Augustine blames his youthful foolishness and his own lack of awareness for delaying his spiritual journey as he addresses God, “I abandoned you to pursue the lowest things of your creation” (Conf. 1.21). This explicit statement of regret proves the distinction between Augustine as the protagonist versus as the author. Augustine’s initial grief as he read about the death of Dido is ultimately juxtaposed with his definite indifference towards the fatality and apathy towards …show more content…
Augustine’s newfound love for God even overshadows the loss of his son. As Augustine reflects upon the memory of his son, it is evident that he removes himself from the experience. Within the text, Augustine’s recollection of his son is barely one page long and does not speak to how he felt about Adeodatus’ death, but instead his life. Augustine withdrawing himself from the situation seems to be a product of the brevity to which Adeodatus is acknowledged at all. Even as Augustine praises his son’s “intelligence [that] left [him] awestruck” and goes on to say he “[recalls] him with no anxiety” with “nothing to fear in his boyhood or adolescence or indeed his manhood,” he remains superficial in his nostalgic reminiscence (Conf. 9.14). Augustine speaks only to Adeodatus’ ability whereas with his friend and even Dido he expressed sadness over their loss. This subtle diminishing of their relationship can be attributed to the way Augustine sees Adeodatus as his “natural son begotten of [his] sin,” a manifestation of past impiety (Conf. 9.14). The death of Adeodatus was, in turn, the death of Augustine’s sin over which he expresses no grief. The death of Adeodatus also appears to be an outlier due to the absence of Augustine’s usual authorial commentary. Since Augustine is usually overcome with grief in accordance with the deaths he encounters, as he recalls his emotions he can speak to their unnecessary