Marcus Aurelius's Life

Life Lessons

(Three Favorite Texts) Literature is one of the most important aspects in a student’s life. Learning through our histories writings and teachings is a way to expand our knowledge of a wide variety of materials. I have read and researched many different texts throughout this last semester, the fall of 2014. These writings were all new to me and opened my eyes and ears to what our history produced in the last several thousands of years. The authors that we talk of today, are totally opposite from many of the writers and authors throughout time. A lot of literature of the past were not written for entertainment, but for the good of the society or even themselves. History, through different texts, have shown us what was important

Marcus Aurelius was the Roman Emperor from 161 to 180 AD, and also known to be a scholar and military leader. He was considered one on the most important Stoic philosophers because of his serious of personal writings. These writings, now known as Meditations, was never even supposed to be read by anyone other than Marcus Aurelius himself. These writing were for his self-guidance on how to be the best person and ruler he could be. His writings were split up into twelve different books, each one representing a different period in Marcus’s life. When you begin to read his writings more in depth, you come to conclusion that he was the loneliest man on earth. This would not seem to be the truth after only hearing of his wealth and power compared to the rest of the world. He owned the world at one point, where the people cherished him and bowed at his feet. This was true, but in reality he had no equals. He was known as the most just man on earth. He had the ability to do and say whatever he pleased, but instead he looked into the greater good and wanted what was best for his people and Empire. Everyone was below him, but he did not act like it. In summary, he believed everyone was stupid. He could both fight against them and prove them wrong, or he could live with it because it was never going to change. Marcus Aurelius was the greatest ruler to ever live because he believed that is was better to be

Chaucer told the truth, not matter if people wanted to hear it or not. In the past, there were many thoughts and ideas that were not appropriate for the society in that time period. Chaucer brought out the worst in people, but in a way that he was not blamed for any wrong doing. The Canterbury Tales is a collection of over twenty stories that tells about a “story-telling” contest between a good of pilgrims. These stories tell the truth of that time in history, even though many people deny it. Chaucer never got in trouble from this stories because he always said that someone else told these stories, he was only repeating them. One of the more famous ones is The Wife of Bath’s. A women speaks out to a group of men on the truth behind what women want. During that time period, the men ruled the world, and women were always below them. This wife that lived in a village called Bath’s, stated that women are smarter than men and should have authority over men. She may not have said it in that way, but that is where she was going. All women want is to rule men. This was the very beginning to equality through men and women, and that is why I enjoyed this text so much. Chaucer was known to be one of the first known feminists and change the idea that men are always above women. I have a very strong opinion within this subject, so I was very intrigued by