Augustine's Restlessness In The Confessions

In The Confessions, Augustine argues that the desire for more than is needed is a natural human condition, thus, humans are condemned to be restless. Throughout the novel he explores what he argues are the actions which can result in a feeling of fulfillment: love and pilgrimage. In his lecture on The Confessions, Neil Robertson made the argument that in the book, love is the problem and the solution. I will argue that love is the problem because it causes a constant lack of satisfaction while simultaneously it is the solution because it is the cause of restlessness, and therefore the purpose of our search for fulfillment. In this paper I will explore this through Augustine’s desires and pilgrimage. I will outline the importance of the loves

This experience is very important for it is a representation of human desire for evil. For Augustine, committing evil for the sake of sinning is much worse than committing evil for a purpose or end goal. He already “had plenty of what [he] stole and much better quality too, and [he] had no desire to enjoy it when [he] resolved to steal it. [He] simply wanted to enjoy the theft for the sake, and the sin” (II.4.9. p37). This act of evil is another example of Augustine’s restlessness, for he was looking for understanding and clarity through defying divine law. This love of sin itself is a driving force towards God, Augustine writes, “There was time in my life when I was afire to take my fill to hell” (II.1.1, p33). Augustine later understands that by God allowing him to sin, it drew him closer in relationship with God by showing him that sinning does not produce fulfilment. He writes, “You were ever present to me, mercifully angry, sprinkling very bitter disappointment over all my unlawful pleasures so that I might seek pleasure free from all disappointment” (II. 4, p34). God is showing him mercy only because he knows that later he will understand that life is more fulfilling with

His reading of Cicero stirs an even deeper longing for understanding, he writes, “for under its influence my petitions and desires altered. All my hollow hopes suddenly seemed worthless, and with unbelievable intensity my heart burned with longing for the immortality that wisdom seemed to promise” (III.4.7, p46). This promise of wisdom seemed to be the answer Augustine was searching for. This new understanding of philosophy leads him to study scripture. At first he disliked scripture for he was still “proud” (III. 5.9, p47) and “immature” (III. 5.9, p47). He lacked the ability to “penetrate to its inner meaning” (III. 5.9, p47). Yet, Augustine still “ached” (III.6.10, p48) for truth. But Augustine’s need for stability was still prevalent and his will for fulfilment continued to drive him