Marius the Epicurean · Question
How does Marius the Epicurean develop the theme of Family, Domestic Affection, and Chastity?
Answer
Marius the Epicurean by Walter Pater develops Family, Domestic Affection, and Chastity across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.
The book idealizes family life, portraying it as a source of deep emotional bonds and moral strength, particularly through the Christian emphasis on chastity, the care of children, and the sanctity of the household, as exemplified by Cecilia's villa.
Marius's religious observances are deeply tied to family, home, and the veneration of ancestors, emphasizing domestic piety and continuity.
Marius's mother's sustained grief and devotion to her husband's memory, along with the family's ceremonial traditions, highlight the centrality of domestic piety and affection.
Marius's remorse over a childish slight to his mother at their last meeting underscores the value he places on familial love and the sanctity of home.
Evidence in the book
- The Religion of Numa
Marius's religious observances are deeply tied to family, home, and the veneration of ancestors, emphasizing domestic piety and continuity.
- II: White-Nights
Marius's mother's sustained grief and devotion to her husband's memory, along with the family's ceremonial traditions, highlight the centrality of domestic piety and affection.
- Change of Air
Marius's remorse over a childish slight to his mother at their last meeting underscores the value he places on familial love and the sanctity of home.
- XIII: The "Mistress and Mother" of Palaces
The chapter depicts the imperial family as a domestic scene with children, birthday gifts, and Aurelius's tender references to his children's illnesses, contrasting with rumors of adultery.
- II: The Church in Cecilia’s House
The chapter emphasizes the sanctity of family life, with the catacombs connected to the house as a bold assertion of family instinct, reinforced by the Holy Family.
- XXII: "The Minor Peace of the Church"
The chapter highlights the Christian emphasis on chastity, family affections, and the sanctity of domestic life, contrasting with earlier Roman and pagan ideals.
- XXVII: The Triumph of Marcus Aurelius
The memory of Faustina's ambiguous domestic life and the orphan foundation named after her contrast with the idealized family of Antoninus Pius.
