Marius the Epicurean
(1885) by
Walter Pater
is a philosophical and semi-autobiographical novel set in the Roman Empire during the reign of Marcus Aurelius. It follows the intellectual and spiritual journey of
Marius
, a sensitive and thoughtful young Roman who seeks meaning in life through art, philosophy, and religion.
Initially drawn to
Epicureanism
, Marius pursues beauty and personal serenity as guiding principles. However, he becomes increasingly disillusioned with its limitations. Over time, he explores
Stoicism
,
Platonism
, and
early Christianity
, all while observing the decline of pagan Rome and the stirrings of a new spiritual world.
The novel is less about plot and more about
inner transformation
-a meditation on how one might live a good and beautiful life. Ultimately, Marius does not convert to Christianity but comes to admire its ideals, dying quietly in pursuit of a moral, reflective, and compassionate life.
Pater's richly aesthetic style and emphasis on
sensibility, moral choice, and the soul's development
make this a landmark work in English Decadent literature.