The literary time period that gave birth to idealisms of freedom, justice and humanism under
the influence of radically changing spiritual beliefs- the Renaissance- produced many new styles of intellectually challenging
literature. One of the most prominent and influential French writers of the Renaissance exemplified the humanist movement
through his radically personalized style of writings. Michel de Montaigne infused the literary world with his skepticism
and popularization of the essay.
Split from the orthodox Christian church, the humanist movement of
the Renaissance remodeled European literature based on interpretations of Greek and Roman texts with emphasis on the arts
and senses. The approval of self and individual dignity, a foundation for the movement, prompted Montaigne’s famous
collection The Essays- a compilation of numerous short works intended to explain his perception of man and himself in a completely
blunt manner. Montaigne’s representation of
Europe’s skepticism and fideism is contained in the twelfth chapter An Apology for Raymond
Sebond in which he seeks to humble man’s pride, exemplified by his infamous remark “What do I know?”. Through
merging “serious intellectual speculation with casual anecdotes and autobiography” Montaigne produced an eternally
modern work that influenced other classical authors and political philosophers of that time (Shakespeare, Machiavelli, More)
and represented the humanist method of learning on an individual basis (
www.wikipedia.org).
Montaigne’s The Essays created a stepping stone in Renaissance literature though
his modernistic use of autobiographical commentaries and uniquely stylized rhetoric. Varying from “a stream-of-thought
from topic to topic” movement, “and at other times employing a structured style which gives more emphasis to the
didactic nature of his work” the result was a collection of short subjective treatments of intellectual topics (
www.wikipedia.org). First published in 1580, his works convey his disgust for violence, the conquest for the New World, man’s pursuit
for everlasting fame, and romantic love. However, Montaigne ponders that the recognition of each culture’s differentiating
mores, laws and religions may provide a valid method of spiritual and personal understanding- a very modern cultural relativism.
Still exemplifying the literary trend of the Renaissance, The Essays contain many references to classic Greek and Roman texts,
often non-religious. In An Apology for Raymond Sebond however, Montaigne defends Christianity- portraying the mixed
and controversial beliefs many Renaissance citizens dealt with.
Through exemplifying the major humanism
movement circulating throughout western Europe while incorporating the foundations of Renaissance literature, Michel de Montaigne’s
work uniquely and overwhelmingly influence the literary period. His personalized style and crafted rhetoric created
an influential and intellectually modern work of Renaissance literature.
