Essay Questions

Why is Rousseau running away from Mme de Warens to Turin?

Rousseau is an orphan, and he is doing everything possible to be independent. At first, he lives with his uncle Bernard but later realizes that he needs to struggle independently. Rousseau gets a job with an engraver master, but he does not like the business his master does, and he decides to quit. Rousseau is later introduced to Mme de Warens by his friend Pontverre. Warens is an older lady, and with time she falls in love with Rousseau. Warens starts to bumper Rousseau with everything he needs as long he satisfies her sexual needs. However, Rousseau does not want to live like this, and he thinks that there are better ways of earning a living than satisfying older women sexually to get paid. Therefore, Rousseau runs away from Warens to avoid being trapped into sex slavery.

How does the author illustrate the vacillating nature of exploiting amorousness for pecuniary advantage?

Mme de Warens is an opportunistic woman who uses young tomboys for her sexual and economic gain. At first, Rousseau refuses her offer for sexual favors in exchange for luxuries. When Rousseau runs away to try life elsewhere, the situation becomes more arduous, and he decides to get back to Warens to accept her proposal. Warens takes him, and they develop and sexual relationship. Rousseau services Warens sexually when she demands it. Rousseau later learns that Warens is also having another tomboy called Anet. However, Warens prefers Rousseau more than Anet, and she puts him in charge of her finances. After achieving her financial target, Warens dump Rousseau and replaces him with another tomboy to satisfy her sexually. Hence, Warens uses her finances and wealth to use tomboys, and when she achieves her financial and sexual goals, she dumps them.

What is the central theme in the book ‘The Confessions of Jean-Jacques Rousseau?

As the title suggests, Rousseau's confessions emerge as the central theme throughout the book. Specifically, Rousseau confesses about his sexual escapes with women and living in pretense to get whatever he wants. Rousseau narrates about he engaged in a sexual relationship with Warens, d'Epinary, and D'Houdetot. All these women are older than Rousseau, but they are wealthy. The main interest of Rousseau in these older women is to get money and other luxuries. Rousseau also married Therese, but she divorced him because of his eternal sexual affairs with other women. Rousseau also confesses how he pretended to be following catholic doctrines to live with the church leaders. Consequently, the entire book is about confessions about Rousseau's past life.