Philosophical Reviews: Monte Verità By: Daphne Du Maurier

 

The philosophical message of Daphne du Maurier's novella Monte Verità implies that there can be no perfect earthly paradise; simply living a spiritual life outside of society is not enough. Ultimately, both relinquishing the ego and believing that humans can exercise absolute free will and achieve immortality to know the truth are pure illusions, as disease and physical decay are unstoppable.

The myth of beauty and immortality is an urban legend; priestesses try in vain to slow or stop time with prayer and devotion to the sun.

The truth is that one must accept the decay of one's body as the years pass.