Marius the Epicurean · Chapters

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Chapter companions for Marius the Epicurean by Walter Pater.

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Chapter 1
Dedication
A brief dedication of the work to Hester and Clara.
Chapter 2
Epigraph
The chapter opens with a Greek epigraph, a fragment from a winter dream when the nights are longest, setting a reflective and somber tone for the work.
Chapter 3
Marius the Epicurean His Sensations and Ideas Part I
The opening chapter introduces Marius as a young boy growing up at White-Nights, a rural estate in Italy. It establishes his early sensations, his education, and the formative influences of his environment, including the death of his father and the presence of his mother. The narrative focuses on Marius's developing aesthetic and moral sensibilities, setting the stage for his philosophical journey.
Chapter 4
The Religion of Numa
This chapter introduces the young Marius, a boy living in an old country-house, who embodies the lingering 'religion of Numa'—the older, purer forms of paganism that survived in rural life. It describes the private Ambarvalia, a family purification ritual, and Marius's devout, reflective participation. His religious sensibility is marked by a blend of fear, gratitude, and a deep sense of sacredness in daily life, though he feels pity for the sacrificial victims. The chapter explores the contrast between the outward forms of religion and Marius's inner speculative thoughts.
Chapter 5
II: White-Nights
This chapter describes Marius's childhood at the family estate, White-Nights, emphasizing the influence of his father's religious traditions and his mother's devoted mourning. It explores Marius's serious, introspective nature, his early sense of priesthood and sacred duty, and his deep connection to the rural landscape. The chapter also reflects on the family's reduced fortunes and the blend of elegance and homeliness in their life, setting the stage for his later Epicurean speculations.

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Dedication

Epigraph

Marius the Epicurean His Sensations and Ideas Part I

The Religion of Numa

II: White-Nights