Page "Jean-Jacques Rousseau" Paragraph 14

Finding himself on his own, since his father and uncle had more or less disowned him, the teenage Rousseau supported himself for a time as a servant, secretary, and tutor, wandering in Italy ( Piedmont and Savoy ) and France.

During this time, he lived on and off with De Warens, whom he idolized and called his " maman ".

Flattered by his devotion, De Warens tried to get him started in a profession, and arranged formal music lessons for him.

At one point, he briefly attended a seminary with the idea of becoming a priest.

When Rousseau reached 20, De Warens took him as her lover, while intimate also with the steward of her house.

The sexual aspect of their relationship ( in fact a ménage à trois ) confused Rousseau and made him uncomfortable, but he always considered De Warens the greatest love of his life.

A rather profligate spender, she had a large library and loved to entertain and listen to music.

She and her circle, comprising educated members of the Catholic clergy, introduced Rousseau to the world of letters and ideas.

Rousseau had been an indifferent student, but during his 20s, which were marked by long bouts of hypochondria, he applied himself in earnest to the study of philosophy, mathematics, and music.

At 25, he came into a small inheritance from his mother and used a portion of it to repay De Warens for her financial support of him.

At 27, he took a job as a tutor in Lyon.