In Praise of Epictetus: George MacDonald’s Engagement with Stoicism

While much has been written about the influence of Plato in MacDonald’s writing, scholars have overlooked his engagement with Stoicism, as mediated through the work of Epictetus. This paper argues that MacDonald’s thought draws significantly from Stoicism and that his many references to Epictetus are indicative of his engagement with the questions posed by Stoic philosophers about suffering, evil, freedom, and providence. MacDonald directly attributes two main themes to Epictetus that are also essential in his own thought: first, that of remaining steadfast in suffering, unmoved by evil circumstances as well as good, and second, that obedience to God brings freedom. Resting on the providential fatherhood of God, both teachers conclude that external things are not necessary to happiness and that a person can yield them fearlessly to him. However, in Christ, MacDonald gains joy and labours in love for his neighbour, features that are not present in Epictetus’s Stoicism.