How did Michel de Montaigne write about illness aging and death?

Michel de Montaigne approached the realities of illness, aging, and death by integrating them into his broader project of self-exploration and his study of the human condition. Rather than viewing these experiences as abstract or distant, he examined them through the lens of his own concrete, lived experience, candidly describing his bodily functions and physical states.123

Regarding these topics, Montaigne’s perspective was characterized by:

• Familiarization with Death: The theme of death pervades his Essays. He sought to familiarize himself with the inevitability of dying to liberate himself from the "tyranny of fear." He ultimately accepted death as a natural exigency, inherent in the expectations and limitations of life.13
• Observation of the Body: Montaigne emphasized the role of the body, observing himself both sick and well. His writings reflect a deep interest in the concept of change, viewing the individual as a being subject to the flow of time and physical decline.2
• Authenticity: By documenting his own aging and health struggles—such as his documented suffering from kidney stones—he aimed to remain faithful to the truth of his own nature, rejecting illusions and accepting the limitations of the human form.134