Keith Seddon: on pleasure and a commentary on Enchiridion 15

"It is most doubtful that Epictetus intends the example of attending a banquet to serve as a general metaphor for life. Such an occasion, consisting of lying down a great deal, eating, drinking, talking, watching and listening to the entertainments, does not sit well with Epictetus' other metaphors for life which include attending a festival, playing a game, acting a part in a drama, training for and competing in an athletic contest, and engaging in military service, all of which suggest undertakings that are active and purposeful, in contrast to attending a banquet, which is largely a passive affair...."