Critical Analysis
Marcus Aurelius Antonius was born in Rome, and was a ruler of Rome. He grew up in a noble order that was time-honored in Spain. As he grew up as a child, he won the Emperor Hadrian’s attention who was his fellow country man. Appointed to priesthood, his education was personally managed by Hadrian. He was assigned to the best literature professors of that time. Some of the letters he had drafted to one of his teachers were found in 1815 by Cardinal Mai. He ascertained phlegm at an early age of 11 and majored in philosophy in his studies at the expense of other studies. The succeeding Emperor to Hadrian took him up as his son in the year 138. In his book, Meditations, Marcus wrote about him, describing his passions, career and personality (Long, 76).
Aurelius had a mate in Marcus, making it obvious as a spirit in him as someone who could be trusted. He was an assistant to the Emperor throughout his reign. Faustina, the Emperor’s daughter got married to him in 139 (Flint, 11). He got a senate admission and to the consulship a second time. He began composing his book, Meditations when he reigned with Antoninus. He ascended to the throne at the age of 40 and shared his imposing right with his lazy brother Aurelius Verus. Regarded as a junior emperor, he passed away in the year 169. He ruled until the time he admitted his son Commodus to full participation in governance in 177. Marcus Aurelius was a reasonable emperor who was straight. His resilience in definite time was depicted at the rise of civil disorders like natural catastrophes and danger by the Germans. After a rebellion on his leadership at the end of his reign in 175, he tried his best to resist the attacks from the barbarians who crumbled a part of his Roman borderlines. It was during this time that Marcus gave himself a devout study of the stoic philosophy (Burt, 17).
According to (Birley, 211), it is noted that the letters that he wrote to a teachers by the name Fronto were not as interesting as the works that he did about himself. Marcus clearly outlines some of the values that he acquired from different people in his life. His works were titles as fantastic as they were mostly thoughts written for his own value based on his long career in public service. Meditation, were effective largely to him and considered personal documents. To a scholar, this could be considered as a resource for the study of Marcus as a character. He raised his only son and enlisted him in power, proving to be a responsible father. This document was considered a stoic with opinions centered on questions about ideas similar to teachings of Epictetus (c. 55-135 AD). He had principles he considered fundamental and coined them as: Abstain and Endure. According to him, freedom could be attained through surrender, provision and a fierce disconnection from all the things that were not considered to be within our power.
Marcus speaks out about his frustrations about the public duties that mentally stressed him. He always wished to retire and live a quiet life. Scholars can benefit from the study of his first bout, as it clearly opens up his mind and thought about his life (Birley, 159). When he died in Vindobona, his only son took over from him. He turned out to be the worst leader and overshadowed his father who was a persecutor of Christians. He considered Christians to be fanatics who were not willing to die with a dignity of stoic. “How lovely the soul that is prepared – when its hour comes to slough off this flesh – for extinctions, dispersion, or survival! But this readiness should result from a personal decision, not from sheer contrariness like the Christians…” he was a man who knew so little about Christian doctrine and only knew about the Roman religion. There was no consistency in his writing by the look at how the persecutions were carried out. Among other writings were Roman testimonials that honor most of his victories in the past wars. Marcus Aurelius had his stoic views supported on a later version that was created by the slave. This book was a collection of the many thoughts that he had about himself. Scholars could delve into the personality of this author based on this first episode, the Book 1.
The second part of his writings was the Book 2. At the beginning of this book, Marcus Aurelius exhibits another person that can be noted by scholars. He describes a morning where he has to wake up and handle contrary minded people. He says that all things happen to these people by virtue of their ignorance. He has the impression that even the wrong things that are done or intended against him cannot harm him. This may sound naive, but he keeps this as his faith knowing that he has no evil in him.
Marcus Aurelius gives an understanding of what life is, merely describing it as breath and flesh. Here he sounds to create a light sense of exactly what life is. He is a believer in the gods and their benefits. He gets a little bit ironic about the whole things encouraging his people and the readers not to be so enthusiastic about books. All along he has been so descriptive about his life in his writing and urges them not to be so keen with books. This could be contradicting bearing in mind that he devoted so much effort to study of philosophy and writing. Scholars can get a glimpse of how much he adored their culture when he encourages people to behave and think like Romans. As a model, he desires to see each of them do whatever that they do with zeal and devotion. For scholars and readers, this can be a very good study of Marcus as a personality and his people. He also had the belief that all things, even if they disappear, had the ability to be valuable to life (Flint, 23).
Marcus Aurelius’ third episode Book 3, Marcus gives another impression about life. He has the belief that even though life is wasting away, there is a portion of it that will always remain. Marcus doubts whether the understanding that is with humans can last forever. Owing to this, he insists that the power of understanding needs to be used in search of knowledge of the divinity and human life. According to Book1, even the things that later pass away will always leave something that is pleasing or attractive. Life has got mysteries and Marcus proves this by citing the cases of healers dying of diseases or those who predict death being met by it. He also shows a lot of wisdom in his writing, proving his experience about life. Marcus warns his peoples and readers against thinking about other and considers that a waste of life. He urges them to use every opportunity to do something else whenever they have these kinds of thoughts.
In his Book 3, he gives so much wisdom about life. His instructions center on how his people or the readers should olive. He talks of priority of the desires of man over the promises that they make to one another. Purity of the mind leads to a better life that is without corruption or impunity. Regarding provision, he comes out as someone who believes in God too, encouraging people to be grateful for whatever they have as God is the source. This has been a book that lay open the life of Marcus as a character and as a person. Scholars, both traditional and modern have a lot to benefit from his books which impact life (Flint, 23). He has shown a mastery of wisdom in life as a leader and a man of strong character. The study of his books could have a big impact on readers and scholars alike. Character traits of the author and his personality have been, made evident in his writings. As compared to what he wrote about any other topic, he majored on writing more about himself and career as a servant to the people. This has turned out to be a good basis for scholars who are out to study his life, the roman culture or empire during his time and that of past Roman leaders.
Works Cited
Long, George. The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. Stilwell: Digireads, 2005.
Birley, Antony. Marcus Aurelius. Marcus to Himself. New York: Routledge, 2000.
Flint, Russel & George, Long. The Thoughts of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus: The Third Book. Montana: Kessinger Publishing, 2005.
Burt, S., Daniel. The Biography Book. Marcus Aurelius. Westport: Greenwood Publishing, 2001.
