Michel de Montaignes philosophy on mortality is aging is an inevitable travesty because it leads to a more agonizing death, causes the deterioration of ones mental health, and too much experience can be disastrous. When Montaigne wrote the selected essays* he was in his mid-fifties. He later died at age fifty-nine. Therefore, while writing the essays, the idea of death was a reoccurring thought that prevailed in Montaigne's head. His strong views of death most likely stemmed from the fact that he was aging and death was in the near future for him. Montaigne believes that the process of aging lends aide to a more painful death than a death occurring in ones earlier years. He believes that life should be amputated at the point where it is alive and healthy; he who repays not his debt to Nature in good time usually finds she exacts interest with a vengeance (page 203). If a person is not let to live after time begins to take its toll then a tormenting death can be avoided. Also according to Montaigne, the older one gets, the more susceptible they are for serious illnesses and diseases. These illnesses cause great pain and suffering. This discomfort could be avoided if one dies before the illnesses start to appear. Montaigne is speaking of death on page 204 when he asserts that the more closely it presses upon me and importunes me the less reason I shall have to be afraid to die. I had already succeeded in holding onto life only what life has to offer: my illness will abrogate even that compact; and may God grant that at the end, if the harsh pain finally overcomes my strength, it may not drive me to the other extreme (no less wrong) of loving and yearning to die. He also feels that illnesses can prolong death causing one to suffer for a longer period of time. On page 396, Montaigne says that the sick live longer because they know that they are dying so they take better care of themselves and take medicine. Montaigne believes that medici...
