for creative writing educators
for teachers of English

Was Rousseau the first person to write about being alone?

Reading Rousseau’s biography, in which it is stated that great philosopher was the first person in his autobiography to write about being ‘alone’, to explore the interior state of a child who felt lonely, isolated, alienated. In his Confessions, Rousseau describes feeling troubled and isolated as he ventured through a graveyard in the dark, hearing laughter in the distance. His autobiography goes into some depth while describing this. In doing so, the philosopher explores an interior state hitherto thought of little value to investigate.

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