Montaigne: Essay analysis

This text is about a conjoined twin whose defects are evidently severe. The organs and limbs
of this child are distorted to an extent where the author decides to employ a quite distasteful
adjective, namely "monstrous." The author does not display his disgust in the essay, however.
He is relatively collected in his reaction to the child. He then reminds the readers that all
creations of God are in accordance to nature, even though many humans may think otherwise.
The essay is strategically structured, as the author is very organized in his essay. In the
beginning, he describes the physical traits of the baby in the most objective manner as
possible. His words are of strict observation. He then brings up a personal anecdote. He talks
about how he witnessed a man without genitals, but lived and functioned like any normal
person would. He then shifts his focus of the essay in talking about how all creations are of
God, and even though it may not seem like it, even the most deformed looking creature are of
nature, and God takes pride and compassion in all of his creations.
The language of the essay undergoes a dramatic shift from objective to subjective from the
beginning of the essay to the end. In the beginning, he does not allow his personal feelings
get in the way of his descriptions of the baby. His description of the baby are so detailed in a
way the readers are immediately able to draw a picture in their mind, which is quite crucial
since it's likely that most readers are unfamiliar with how a conjoined baby would look like.
However, the readers are unable to see the readers' personal feelings until the last couple
paragraphs, where he begins to talk about his own personal stance on the baby.
This text is not addressed to anyone in specific. He is addressing the essay to the general
public, as he often uses the pronoun "we" without specifying a specific group of individuals.
The text allows the readers to see exactly what the author is seeing, and is given the
opportunity to draw personal religious opinion from the observation. The text itself is arguing
that even though the baby was imperfect and deformed, it is still very natural. The text is
somewhat effective at its goal. Because the majority of the text is dedicated to describing the
baby, and only a couple paragraphs actually relay his personal opinion, the readers are unable
to ponder deeply into the issue.
Context
Characters/Point of View
-the essay was written in the 16th century during which birth defects were common due to the
lack of information about pregnancy
-the topic in the essay departs from conventions because during this time period, events such
as having a child with disabilities were not publicly displayed or shared
-Montaigne incorporates the theme of acceptance towards all because of the unjustified
actions towards those created differently
-the social norm was to not address these births because the children born were not created or
treated equally
-the narrator is speaking in the passage in first person
-the tone is of nonchalance and objection, resulting from minimal comparisons and no
reflected opinions
-the choice of words reveals the indifferent tone and clearly illustrates the imagery in the text
to let the reader decide for themselves how they view the actions
"Of a Monstrous Child"
Language of the text?
• Dramatic shift from objective to subjective
• Very descriptive, paints an image
• Religious and personal view
Conflict
-the conflict in “Of a Monstrous Child” is related directly to a larger conflict that the author
wants to address about tolerance towards all
-the character displays an external conflict against nature and society when the author
describes the brutal views people are faced with when they are not “normal” to society’s
standards
"What we call monsters are not so to God, who sees in the immensity of his work the infinity
of forms that he has comprised in it; and it is for us to believe that this figure that astonishes
us is related and linked to some other figure of the same kind unknown to man."
Literary Terms: Metaphors/Symbols
1533-1592
- born into a family of rich merchants from his mother and father’s side of the family
-grew up speaking Latin but wrote in French, and studied law up until the age of 38
-claimed to have been the first to display a full verbal portrait of himself
-influences for his writing stemmed from Greek and Roman authors and the civil Catholics
and Protestants
-Montaigne was admired for his ability to be humble and perceive his own self as average
-did not approve of society and described it as ineffective and conflicting.
Montaigne’s ideas were reflected in “Of a Monstrous Child,” by exemplifying the theme of
acceptance of everyone. His humility was displayed as he described that all that God has
created, including this child, is beautiful.
- the baby represents anyone/anything of deviation from the norm
-Montaigne uses the child to make a statement about accepting all of God’s creations
Literary Terms: Imagery
- “Under the breast it was joined to another child, but without a head, and which had the spine
of the back without motion, the rest entire; for though it had one arm shorter than the other, it
had been broken by accident at their birth; they were joined breast to breast, and as if a lesser
child sought to throw its arms about the neck of one something bigger.”
-"This double body and these several limbs, connected with a single head, might well furnish
a favorable prognostic to the king..."
Literary Terms: Allusion
“So as when they are come to pass, they may then by some interpretation be recalled to
conjecture” —Cicero
“What he often sees he does not admire, though he be ignorant how it comes to pass. When a
thing happens he never saw before, he thinks that it is a portent.”—Cicero
Literary Terms: Pathos
Pathos represents an appeal to the audience's emotions
What is the text arguing?
The title of the essay is rather straightforward. The author captures the most essential element
of the story plot in its title, as it immediately lets the readers know that the essay will be about
a "monstrous child." Although it may leave room for readers to assume that "monstrous" is a
metaphorical interpretation, they soon find out that the author is literal in his usage of the
word.
• Regardless of deformity and physical imperfection, everything is created according to
nature.
Of a Monstrous Child by Michel de Montaigne
To whom is the text addressed?
Is the text effective at its goal?
Period 2
• Not addressed to anyone in specific.
• Written to the general public
• Uses "we"
What is this text about?
• Conjoined twins with severe defects
• Organs and limbs extremely deformed
• Objective description of the baby
• Expresses personal thoughts on the baby in the end
• Asserts that even a monstrous baby is in accordance with nature
 • Majority of the text is dedicated to describing the baby.
• Only a few sentences convey his personal thoughts.
• Readers are unable to ponder deeply into the issue.
How is the text structured?
Structurally structured and strictly organized
1. Strict Observation of the baby
• Remains very objective
• Detailed wording
2. Personal Anecdote
• About a man without genitals
• Builds a bridge between narration and opinion.
3. Opinion
• Religious perspective
• Strictly personal
Background of Author: Michel de Montaigne
An allusion is a figure of speech that makes a reference to, or representation of, people,
places, events, literary work, myths, or works of art, either directly or by implication
-appeals to the reader's sympathy and emotion
-author evokes a feeling of identification from the readers
-the reader pities the "monstrous" child