# Chapter III explained — Against the Grain > Chapter companion for Against the Grain by J.-K. Huysmans. ## What happens Des Esseintes' contemplation of Latin literature, focusing on the decadent period of the Silver and Late Latin authors, his disdain for the Golden Age writers like Virgil and Cicero, and his fascination with Petronius, Apuleius, and the Christian apologists such as Tertullian, set against the backdrop of the crumbling Roman Empire and the barbarian invasions. ## Themes in this chapter ### Decadence and Degeneracy Des Esseintes' fascination with the decaying Latin language and the vices of a crumbling civilization, as seen in Petronius and the late Empire. ### Artifice vs. Nature Tertullian's condemnation of cosmetics and jewelry contrasts with Des Esseintes' own preference for artifice over nature. ### Disillusionment with Society Des Esseintes' rejection of mainstream Latin literature and his retreat into obscure, decadent authors reflect his broader disillusionment. ### Aestheticism and Sensuality The appreciation of style and sensory richness in Petronius and Apuleius, and the tactile pleasure of rare editions. ## Character check-ins ### Des Esseintes The protagonist, whose literary tastes and bibliophilic passions are explored in depth as he examines his collection of Latin works. ### Petronius Author of the Satyricon, whose refined style and depiction of a decadent civilization rivet Des Esseintes' attention. ### Apuleius The African rhetorician whose rich, exotic Latin and jovial nature delight Des Esseintes. ### Tertullian Christian apologist whose style and life during the reign of Elagabalus intrigue Des Esseintes more than his theological works. ### Virgil Dismissed by Des Esseintes as a pedantic and tiresome poet, representative of the Golden Age he despises. ### Cicero Criticized for his redundant and ponderous style, lacking the originality Des Esseintes seeks. ### Augustine Bishop of Hippo, whose works Des Esseintes knows well but no longer opens, despite their themes of disillusionment. ### Sidonius Apollinaris A late Latin author whose affected style and ingenious poetic constructions appeal to Des Esseintes. ## Key lines > depicting in language wrought to the perfection of a piece of goldsmith’s work, without the writer once showing himself, without a word of comment, without one phrase of approbation or disapproval of his characters’ deeds and thoughts, the vices of a decrepit civilization, an Empire falling to ruin, rivetted Des Esseintes’ attention Petronius' Satyricon, with its flawless, impersonal style, captures the vices of a decaying civilization and a crumbling empire, which deeply fascinates Des Esseintes. _Des Esseintes admires Petronius for his objective, artful depiction of decadence._ > the gentle Virgil, he whom school ushers name the Swan of Mantua, presumably because he was not born in that city, appeared to him as one of the most terrible of pedants, one of the most dismal twaddlers Antiquity ever produced Virgil, often called the Swan of Mantua, strikes Des Esseintes as a dreadful pedant and a tedious bore. _Des Esseintes' contempt for Virgil and the Golden Age Latin poets is evident._ > the Latin language, after attaining to supreme maturity in Petronius, was beginning to break up; the literature of Christianity was claiming After reaching its peak in Petronius, the Latin language began to disintegrate as Christian literature took over. _Des Esseintes sees the decline of Latin as a parallel to the decline of the Empire._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/against_the_grain_se/chapters/iii - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/against_the_grain_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/against_the_grain_se/chapters