Praise of Folly

A detailed Summary of Praise of Folly


The Praise of Folly takes on a very diverse form of life during sixteenth century

Europe. In 1509 the author, Desiderius Erasmus, turned his literary talents to the

ridicule and denunciation of monastic vice, immorality, and wickedness. He was

considered the "Prince of Humanists" [1] because he was one of the most important

men in Europe during the period of the Reformation, The historical and cultural

references in his book proves that the Praise of Folly could not have been written

during any other time period except sixteenth century Europe.

Erasmus is one of the most fascinating and inscrutable characters in history.

There is no doubt that he was a genius, He was also a bon vivant, but his tastes ran

toward good conversation and good food rather than conspicuous consumption. He

whined endlessly about his troubles, and he begged shamelessly for ever more money

from his patrons. But he was one of the "most far-sighted individuals to walk this

planet," [2]. Before any others, he saw how the corruption and misdeeds of the church

would lead to danger, and when Martin Luther hijacked Erasmus' reform efforts and


reader that they can never have self-love, flattery, forgetfulness, idleness, pleasure,

latter there appeared in the church that Pharisaism which based righteousness on good

deliberate attempt to discredit the church, and its satire and stinging comment on

prelates also, not excluding the Popes. But it concludes in an unexpected way; a witty



Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1502
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Miscellaneous

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