38 pages • 1 hour read
BoethiusConsolation Of Philosophy
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 524A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book 1Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Book 1, Chapter 1 Summary
The first book opens with verse in which Boethius, accompanied by the Muses (the inspiring geniuses of poetry), expresses deep sadness at his misfortune and imprisonment.
The narrative changes to prose as Boethius notices a majestic woman standing near his bed. She is the personification of Philosophy. Philosophy commands the Muses—“these hysterical sluts” (4)—to go away, insisting that only her philosophical medicine can bring healing to Boethius.
Book 1, Chapter 2 Summary
Philosophy tells Boethius that the “cloud of worldly concern” (6) has led him to forget his philosophical background and learning. She dries his tears to help him recognize her identity.
Book 1, Chapter 3 Summary
Boethius recognizes Philosophy, whom he describes as “my nurse in whose house I had been cared for since my youth” (7). Philosophy answers that she will stand by him in his hardships, which have been caused by hatred for her name. She recalls that such revered philosophers as Socrates were also persecuted, and that later the Stoic and Epicurean philosophers carried off bits and pieces of the Socratic heritage, thus gaining a false reputation for wisdom. Philosophy asserts that she will remain impervious to every attack of the foolish.
Book 1, Chapter 4 Summary
Philosophy instructs Boethius to maintain a lofty, stoical unconcern for whatever happens to him, for it is in this way that tyrants are disarmed of their power.
Philosophy then tells Boethius to speak freely about his troubles. Boethius gives vent to his complaints in a long speech. Despite his steadfast pursuit of justice and virtue in public life, he has suffered grave injustice, being betrayed by wicked courtiers and sentenced to death on a false charge.
Boethius explains that he tried to apply philosophical principles to public administration, inspired by Plato's teaching that philosophers should take part in government. To this end, he frequently defended the weak and helpless from false accusations and opposed unjust legislation. But a group of corrupt informers in the Roman government laid a false accusation upon Boethius to distract from their own fraudulent activity. It appears that Boethius had attempted to defend the Senate from an accusation of treason, and in the process was accused of treason himself. Boethius deems it “monstrous” (12) that God should look on while the just suffer at the hands of the wicked.
Book 1, Chapter 5 Summary
Boethius prays to God to enact justice on earth. Philosophy says that Boethius has strayed from his ideals. The “banishment” he believes he has been subjected to goes deeper than he thinks, for in forgetting his philosophical principles he has been banished from his true philosophical homeland. Because his angry passions have caused him to become “swollen and calloused” (18), she will apply a gentle remedy.
Book 1, Chapter 6 Summary
In verse, Philosophy speaks of the dangers of challenging the order established by God. Philosophy then queries Boethius about chance and order. Boethius acknowledges that divine reason rules life, not chance. However, he is unable to answer by what means God guides the world. Philosophy concludes that Boethius's mind has been dulled by his emotions, causing him to forget his true nature as well as the end and purpose for which the world was created.
Book 1, Chapter 7 Summary
In the poem that occupies the entirety of this chapter, Philosophy urges Boethius to follow the path of truth and not let emotion distract him.
Book 1 Analysis
In Book 1, Boethius establishes the premise and structure of the narrative and introduces some of its major themes. Boethius's opening verse laments that he has suffered great misfortune and lies grief-stricken in prison. Lady Philosophy appears immediately to comfort him and initiate the philosophical dialogue that will form the body of the work.
From the first lines of the book, Boethius gives vent to his grief in poetry; however, Philosophy breaks in and chases the Muses away, insisting that poetry will only make Boethius more sick and only philosophy will cure him. This is a traditional distinction between two modes of expression in the classical world, poetry and philosophy—the former associated with emotion and the latter with reason.
Boethius is a learned man and a seeker of wisdom, but the troubles of a political career have cause him to forget his philosophical ideals. His betrayal by political enemies has enraged him, to the extent that he sees evil, treachery, and haphazard chance as the ruling powers of the world.
Philosophy states her intention to cure Boethius, reminding him of his philosophical principles and bringing him back to wisdom and health. This process will require that Boethius cast off his angry passions and follow the course of reason and truth. The poem occupying Chapter 7 illustrates this, using the imagery of “boisterous wind” (21), or storms and waves, as a metaphor for the passions that cloud reason. Both positive emotions, such as joy and hope, and negative ones, such as fear and grief, are to be driven away so that the mind can seek the objective truth.
