# Marius — Marius the Epicurean character guide

> Marius in Marius the Epicurean by Walter Pater.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Marius the Epicurean, the young Marius, sentimental Marius, Epicurean

**First appearance:** 0002-marius-the-epicurean

## Snapshot

A sensitive Roman youth who tests every philosophy of beauty and pleasure against experience, forever seeking a creed worth the surrender of his exquisite reserve.

## Who they are

Marius moves from his provincial childhood through Flavian's pagan aestheticism, the Stoic court of Aurelius, and the Christian household of Cecilia, sampling each as a possible home for his soul. His defining tension is between the Epicurean's cultivated detachment and a longing for some affection or faith that will not dissolve under his own ironic scrutiny. His restless, impressionable search gives the novel its shape: each early encounter is a station on a pilgrimage whose destination he cannot yet name.

## In the story

### [Marius the Epicurean His Sensations and Ideas Part I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/marius-the-epicurean)

The protagonist, introduced as a young boy at White-Nights, experiencing early sensations and the loss of his father.

### [The Religion of Numa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/part-i-i-the-religion-of-numa)

The young protagonist, head of his household, who leads the Ambarvalia rites with devout seriousness and a reflective, speculative mind.

### [II: White-Nights](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/part-i-ii-white-nights)

The young protagonist, deeply influenced by his family's religious traditions and his mother's grief, developing a serious and introspective character.

### [Change of Air](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/part-i-iii-change-of-air)

The protagonist, a boy who journeys to the temple of Aesculapius for healing and undergoes a formative spiritual and aesthetic education.

### [IV: The Tree of Knowledge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/part-i-iv-the-tree-of-knowledge)

Now a tall schoolboy in Pisa, his mother's death has turned his seriousness into intellectual questioning, developing the more human and earthly elements of his character.

### [The Golden Book](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/part-i-v-the-golden-book)

The reader and interpreter of the tale of Cupid and Psyche, absorbing its aesthetic and moral lessons.

### [Euphuism](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/part-i-vi-euphuism)

Marius is deeply influenced by Apuleius's story of Cupid and Psyche, which shapes his ideal of love and beauty. He shares Flavian's literary ambitions and participates in the euphuistic revival of Latin.

### [VII: A Pagan End](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/part-i-vii-a-pagan-end)

Tends to Flavian during his fatal illness, lying beside him through the night and later performing funeral rites.

### [VIII: Animula Vagula](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/part-ii-viii-animula-vagula)

Marius is the central figure, reflecting on Cyrenaic philosophy and Heraclitus after Flavian's death, seeking to orient himself in thought and cultivate a life of refined sensation.

### [IX: New Cyrenaicism](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/part-ii-ix-new-cyrenaicism)

Marius formulates his own version of Cyrenaic philosophy, emphasizing fullness of life, aesthetic education, and the refinement of sensation over mere hedonism.

### [X: On the Way](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/part-ii-x-on-the-way)

Travels toward Rome, reflecting on philosophy, art, and mortality; experiences a moment of fear when a stone falls behind him, but is revived by meeting Cornelius.

### [XI: “The Most Religious City in the World”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/part-ii-xi-the-most-religious-city-in-the-world)

Marius experiences his first morning in Rome, exploring the city with eager curiosity and reflecting on its religious and architectural splendor.

### [XII: The Divinity That Doth Hedge a King](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/part-ii-xii-the-divinity-that-doth-hedge-a-king)

Observes the imperial procession and Aurelius's demeanor, reflecting on his own Epicurean philosophy and the contrast between Aurelius and Verus.

### [XIII: The "Mistress and Mother" of Palaces](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/part-ii-xiii-the-mistress-and-mother-of-palaces)

Visits the Palatine to meet Aurelius, dressed in the newest mode, retaining his country freshness; observes the imperial household with a sense of irony and self-possession.

### [Manly Amusement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/part-ii-xiv-manly-amusement)

Marius is the moral center of the chapter, feeling weary and indignant at the cruelty of the amphitheater, and reflecting on the ethical blindness of his age.

### [Stoicism at Court](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/part-iii-xv-stoicism-at-court)

Present in the audience, deeply affected by Fronto's discourse as it speaks to his inner conflict between his Epicurean philosophy and the pull of traditional morality.

### [XVI: Second Thoughts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/part-iii-xvi-second-thoughts)

Marius reviews his Cyrenaic theory, feeling the pull of a broader, more traditional system of thought and sympathy.

### [Beata Urbs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/part-iii-xvii-beata-urbs)

Visits Aurelius in his empty palace and later attends the funeral of Lucius Verus.

### [The Ceremony of the Dart](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/part-iii-xviii-the-ceremony-of-the-dart)

Marius reads Aurelius's writings, contrasts his philosophy with Cornelius's joy, and delivers a letter to Aurelius at Praeneste, observing the emperor's grief.

### [XIX: The Will as Vision](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/part-iii-xix-the-will-as-vision)

Observes Aurelius's departure, reflects on philosophy and belief, and experiences a serene day at Tibur.

### [XX: Two Curious Houses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/part-iv-xx-two-curious-houses)

Guest at the supper; reflects on his changed perspective and skepticism toward Platonic Idealism.

### [Guests](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/part-iv-i-guests)

The protagonist, now a guest at a sophisticated Roman feast, observes with a sense of detachment and curiosity, reflecting on his own past hero-worship of Apuleius.

### [Two Curious Houses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/part-iv-xxi-two-curious-houses)

Marius explores the Catacombs, contemplating burial versus cremation, and experiences a transformative encounter with Christian hope and martyrdom.

### [II: The Church in Cecilia’s House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/part-iv-ii-the-church-in-cecilia-s-house)

Marius is deeply moved by the atmosphere of Cecilia's house and the catacombs, reflecting on his own sorrows and the new responsibilities this vision of Christian life might demand.

### [XXII: "The Minor Peace of the Church"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/part-iv-xxii-the-minor-peace-of-the-church)

Marius observes the Christian community in Cecilia's house, contrasting its serenity with the melancholy of Marcus Aurelius, and reflects on the beauty of chastity and family life.

### [Divine Service](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/part-iv-xxiii-divine-service)

Marius, seeking Cornelius, attends a Christian service and is deeply moved by the worship, feeling his soul satisfied for the first time.

### [XXIV: A Conversation Not Imaginary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/part-iv-xxiv-a-conversation-not-imaginary)

Marius overhears and reflects on a philosophical debate, feeling a new terror of isolation and connecting it to Christian legend.

### [XXV: Sunt Lacrimae Rerum](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/part-iv-xxv-sunt-lacrimae-rerum)

Marius is the narrator and central consciousness, keeping a register of his private thoughts and humors, reflecting on suffering, compassion, and the failure of love.

### [The Martyrs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/part-iv-xxvi-the-martyrs)

Frequents Cecilia's house, experiences new intellectual and emotional sympathies, witnesses a child's burial, and takes a journey to test his attachments.

### [XXVII: The Triumph of Marcus Aurelius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/part-iv-xxvii-the-triumph-of-marcus-aurelius)

Witnesses the triumph, feels disillusioned, attempts to see Aurelius but fails, and visits the family tomb.

### [XXVIII: Anima Naturaliter Christiana](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/chapters/part-iv-xxviii-anima-naturaliter-christiana)

Marius is the central figure, experiencing deep isolation and reflecting on his life as a preparation for death. He sacrifices himself to save Cornelius.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/characters/marius_the_epicurean
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/marius_the_epicurean_se/characters