The Early Enlightenment of Augustine

Throughout the Confessions, Augustine provides a journal of his life. Education played a major role in his development. Augustine the character’s education began from the moment he started to communicate. He later went on to be formally educated before being removed from school for financial difficulties. Augustine the narrator believes his education a granted will from God; however, at times, Augustine the character seemed to take advantage of this will. Through this ability, granted by God’s will, Augustine the character was able to become literate.

Book one begins with infancy and childhood. Augustine the character’s first form of education began when he learned to talk. In chapter eight, Augustine the narrator discusses his transformation from infancy to childhood: from not knowing language to turning into a “chattering boy” (Bk. 1, Ch. 8, pg. 9). Augustine the narrator also points out that he did not learn to speak through a formal education, such as in school. Instead, he learned to speak and communicate through “varies cries and sounds and movements of my limbs to express my heart’s feelings, so that my will would be obeyed” (Bk. 1, Ch. 8, pg. 9). Through his acquisition of speech, Augustine the character was able to enter in society and be formally educated.

As Augustine the character’s life continued on, he was forced to attend school to obtain formal learning, something which he had not previously known. Augustine the character was a slow learner, which resulted in him being beaten. August the narrator points out how this was a highly praised method of teaching, which had been followed for many years. This method was so highly praised due to those who came before Augustine the character, and had “laid out the hard pa...

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...t, Augustine the narrator should still take his age and maturity into account.

Throughout the Confessions, Augustine provides a journal of his life, especially his education. Augustine the narrator comes to the conclusion that his education had been granted by God and therefore should have been accepted graciously. However, at times, Augustine the character disregarded this gift and sinned. I think Augustine the narrator may have been too harsh on his character’s alter ego. He was a child, and therefore still had much learning to do, which is why he was forced to attend school. In addition, children make mistakes such as being plagued by distractions and disobedience. Shouldn’t a man who follows the Catholic faith be able to understand and comprehend that through our sins and mistakes, we are allowed to repent and that enables us to grow and become closer to God?