Praise Of Folly

Folly refers in a few places to her “friend Erasmus.” Do you think that Folly always speaks for Erasmus’ own views?

Erasmus states in his “Letter to Maarten Van Dorp” that he refrained from attacking individuals in his book. Does the lack of specifics and the recourse to generalities make the satire more or less effective, in your view?

On Page 112, Folly states “I don’t want to look as though I’m writing satire when I should be delivering a eulogy” (112). Do you find this statement to be ironic or serious? Give reasons for your view.

Folly states that human beings are most happy when they “follow the guidance of Nature” (54). What does “nature” mean for Folly/Erasmus? Support your response with evidence from the text.

On Page 22, Folly describes childhood as “by far the happiest and universally enjoyable age,” while on Page 47, she states that “Man’s birth is painful and sordid, his upbringing wearisome, his childhood fraught with dangers, and his youth hard-won with toil.” Taking into account the surrounding context, do you find these statements contradictory? Provide examples from the text to support your argument.

Why does Folly argue that knowledge or science is the “plague of mankind” (50)? What, for Folly, would the opposite of such a state of knowledge be?

What does Folly mean by saying that “Where fact is lacking, fiction is best” (114)? Do you agree with this statement?

What does Folly find fault with in the use of saints’ icons and holy objects? In the common people’s celebration of the Eucharist?