Analysis Of Boethius And Lady Philosophy
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In the Consolation of Philosophy, the character Boethius is interrupted from wallowing in his sorrow by Lady Philosophy, who seeks to help him in his hour of need. Driving away the Muses, Lady Philosophy begins her treatment of Boethius by walking Boethius through a series of discussions, leading to conclusions that should comfort him. While Lady Philosophy attempts to show logically that all fortune leads to good in Prose VI of Book IV, she also acknowledges that humans are incapable of fully understanding this and therefore implies that complete comfort in this knowledge is impossible without faith. Through the explanation of Providence and Fate, she attempts to show Boethius that adverse fortune does not exist, but at the same time also gives him several reasons why he will not be able to understand this concept. She makes it clear that man cannot understand the way Providence works all things out for good because people only sees confusion and disorder and they cannot know other’s inward motives and inclinations. This means that Boethius cannot find comfort in logic and reason alone but must have faith as well.
In Prose VI of Book IV, Lady Philosophy seeks to comfort Boethius in his dire situation by reasoning with him through several concepts. Boethius himself says that he is “very much disturbed” by parts of the explanations given by Lady Philosophy in the previous prose. Consequently, he asks her to “unfold reasons veiled in darkness” in Prose VI (CP 4.6). Boethius