'Marius the Epicurean, Volume 2' Summary

The novel begins with Marius as a young boy, living with his wealthy family in Rome. He is a sensitive and intelligent child, but he is also deeply affected by the death of his father. After his father's death, Marius is sent to live with his uncle, a Stoic philosopher. Marius learns a great deal from his uncle, but he is not convinced by Stoicism's emphasis on duty and self-denial. As a young man, Marius travels to Athens to study philosophy. He is drawn to the Epicurean philosophy, which emphasizes the pursuit of pleasure and the avoidance of pain. However, as he grows older, he becomes increasingly dissatisfied with Epicureanism. He finds that the pursuit of pleasure is ultimately unsatisfying, and he begins to explore other philosophies, including Stoicism and Christianity. Ultimately, Marius finds that the only true meaning in life is to live in accordance with one's own conscience and to strive for the good of others.