How did Seneca influence Renaissance and early modern writers such as Montaigne and Rousseau?

Seneca’s influence on Renaissance and early modern writers was profound, as his prose served as a foundational model for the development of the essay, sermons, and moralizing literature in vernacular languages.1

During the 16th to 18th centuries, writers such as Michel de Montaigne and Jean-Jacques Rousseau drew upon Seneca’s work for both content and stylistic inspiration. While the formal "essay" was later perfected by Montaigne, Seneca was recognized as an ancient master of the form, having written treatises that explored serious themes—such as anger and clemency—with consistency. His moral treatises, particularly the Moral Letters to Lucilius, provided a template for later authors to engage in ethical reflection and self-analysis.123

Beyond his prose, Seneca’s tragedies were highly influential during the Renaissance, especially in England. His dramatic works, characterized by themes of vengeance, ghosts, and cruel tyrants, served as a primary model for classical tragedy, directly impacting the works of playwrights like William Shakespeare and John Webster.1