# How does Confessions of an English Opium-Eater develop the theme of Confession and Self-Justification?

> Confessions of an English Opium-Eater by Thomas De Quincey

## Answer

Confessions of an English Opium-Eater by Thomas De Quincey develops Confession and Self-Justification across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.

The author frames his narrative as a confession to educate and warn others, while simultaneously justifying his addiction as a response to unbearable physical pain and arguing that his self-conquest redeems his indulgence.

The author wrestles with the propriety of public confession, justifying it as a service to others and asserting his own moral standing.

The entire chapter is framed as a confession, where the narrator seeks to explain and justify his opium use and life choices.

The chapter is framed as a preliminary confession to forestall questions about his opium habit and to create sympathy for his case.

## Evidence

- [to-the-reader](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/confessions_of_an_english_opium_eater_se/chapters/to-the-reader.md): The author wrestles with the propriety of public confession, justifying it as a service to others and asserting his own moral standing.
- [confessions-of-an-english-opium-eater](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/confessions_of_an_english_opium_eater_se/chapters/confessions-of-an-english-opium-eater.md): The entire chapter is framed as a confession, where the narrator seeks to explain and justify his opium use and life choices.
- [preliminary-confessions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/confessions_of_an_english_opium_eater_se/chapters/preliminary-confessions.md): The chapter is framed as a preliminary confession to forestall questions about his opium habit and to create sympathy for his case.
- [part-ii-introduction-to-the-pains-of-opium](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/confessions_of_an_english_opium_eater_se/chapters/part-ii-introduction-to-the-pains-of-opium.md): The narrator openly admits his opium habit and argues that he could not have done otherwise, seeking the reader's indulgence.

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