Self-Examination and Consolation in Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy

Boethius regarded the activity of writing the Consolation of Philosophy as a form of self-examination designed to help him coming to terms with his change of fortune. The depiction of character Boethius allows the author to examine the part of him that was overwhelmed by despair; the description of Lady Philosophy permits Boethius to scrutinize the part of him that maintained detachment from his tragedy. The dialogue between the characters and the consolatory strategies described in the texts are the literary devices through which Boethius (I) plays out his internal struggle and (II) investigates how to restore his happiness.