Poquette has a bachelor's degree in English and specializes in writing about literature. In the following essay, Poquette discusses the conflicting obsessions that the narrator is subject to in Pepys's The Diary of Samuel Pepys.

Pepys was first and foremost a man of passion and when he devoted his energies towards something, he always gave everything. Although his various obsessions would serve him well professionally, they would sometimes lead to other obsessions against his will, and he would find himself going back and forth in his vows and his actions.

In ,em>The Diary of Samuel Pepys,,/em> Pepys makes mention of three vices that he attempts to give up: extramarital affairs, drinking, and going to plays. These sometimes lead to or are caused by other obsessions, most notably wealth and morality— although he does not view these two in his narrative as obsessions.

Pepys is a...