Abstract This paper compares and also contrasts the qualities associated with Machiavelli's "Prince" and Castiglione's "Courtier", in the events that took place in the Renaissance period. The paper studies Machiavelli's views of power and control as opposed to Castiglione's view of what characteristics the ideal Prince should possess.
From the Paper "The Renaissance was a period during which significant creative and intellectual energies were being put forth across a range of different enterprises, from the visual arts and literature to the sciences, politics and social interactions. In Castiglione's "The Courtier" and Machiavelli's "The Prince" we find two disparate treatises; the former on courtiers and the latter on princes."
Abstract This paper is a review of the Baldassare Castiglione's classic literary piece "The Book of the Courtier" from the 16th Century, as translated into English in the 20th Century. The paper notes that Castiglione wrote in an Italian dialect and not Latin as would be expected during that time. The work is an insider's view of court life and governance during this period and the paper analyzes its lasting influence. The paper is divided into four sections which correspond with the sub-books in "The Book of the Courtier". Some characteristics of the book overall are also outlined followed by the conclusion.
From the Paper "Baldassare Castiglione's The Book of the Courtier is set in early 16th Century Italy. It is a guide-book on important issues of the day to court life and governance, outlining proper etiquette, behavior and acts. It was almost a "Court Life for Dummies" book. It sketched out the proper way one should govern and function at court. The Book of the Courtier was written not first in Latin, but in a language Castiglione was most familiar with, an Italian dialect. His book would prove immensely popular and influential in to its time, being translated to French, Spanish, English, Latin and German."
Abstract This paper is a book report of Baldesar Castiglione's, "The Book of the Courtier". Castiglione's humanism profoundly influences his idea, especially about what constitutes the perfect courtier. Indeed, it is clear that Castiglione perceives the importance of man turning toward himself for his own decisions, and of increasing his questioning of authority in all aspects of life. Castaglione clearly struggles with the question of whether or not society should have a certain goal toward which aspiring people should direct their efforts. In life, Castiglione reveals, there must be a certain emphasis on measuring our accomplishments with those of other people. This is important in order for humans to be able to excel in life, and for them not to remain puppets of some religious institution.
An analysis of the portrayal of courtly love as exemplified by Kalidasa's "The Recognition of Sakuntala" and Baldesar Castiglione's "The Book of the Courtier".
Abstract Cultural and social developments have affected the form and functions of drama in profound ways over the centuries and Western observers often believe that the ancient Greeks had a monopoly on drama. This paper looks at how Kalidasa's "The Recognition of Sakuntala" shows that the Greeks had some distinguished company in the great works of Indian literature in this genre. To identify these similarities, this paper provides a comparison of how courtly love is portrayed in Kalidasa's "The Recognition of Sakuntala" and Baldesar Castiglione's "The Book of the Courtier", followed by a summary of the research in the conclusion.
From the Paper "Adapting his theme from the first part of the Mahabharata , Kalidasa tells the story of the love of Sakuntala for the King Dusanta in the course of seven acts. The story describes how King Dusanta was hunting in the forest with his courtiers one day in pursuit of a stag. When Dusanta shoots the stag with an arrow, he is reproached by a passing holy man for being cruel to other living beings. In response, Dusanata begs forgiveness from the holy man who finally pardons him and even provides him with his blessing. In the process, Dusanta spies Sakuntala and immediately falls in love with her, and Sakuntala responds in a gentle and restrained fashion."
Abstract This paper explains that contemporaries Machiavelli and Castiglione, who wrote about the Italian courts in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries, still influence today's politics and society. The author points out that Machiavelli's "The Prince" examined the exigencies of politics and political maneuvering as they applied to the rulers of Italy's endlessly warring city-states; whereas, Castiglione, in "The Courtier" investigated the talents required of individuals, who served under the ruling princes and comprised the courts of these small states. The paper relates that Machiavelli's "The Prince" became a byword for intrigue and for "the ends justifying the means" as a cynical version of politics and political control; however, Castiglione emphasized the intellectual and social accomplishments of an individual, which were required to become a successful and productive member of the ruling class.
From the Paper "In the eyes of Castiglione, the courtier's personal qualities must necessarily fit within the larger picture of the court performance. Courtiers are nearly always participating in some larger events, some function that demands the presence of many individuals around the ruler or rulers. Court ceremonial and pageantry was especially important to the author of "The Book of the Courtier". A significant aspect of court pageantry of the time was the performance known as masking, in which the courtiers themselves assumes other roles while wearing masks."
Abstract This paper studies the nature and nurture of the Russian Monarchy under the upbringing of Catherine the Great and her Stoic / Enlightenment based moral values. Focusing on the developmental complexities of the social and family unit which brought around the four most well known of the Russian Royals, Alexander I, Constantine, Nicholas I and Michael, this paper follows up the effects of a family unit oriented upbringing with strong liberal and republican beliefs that gripped the Russian Royal family in it's later years through Catherine as a matriarchal influence to these four, and Paul as a patriarchal leader. The psychological scarring left upon Nicholas on seeing his fathers demise at the hands of his own courtiers demonstrated a manipulative effect on his reign. Also demonstrated in this paper is the fact that regardless of liberal beliefs, the people's agenda quite often defies what intellectually could be classified as the best system of government for them as demonstrated through the coup de etat against Paul and the Decembrist rebellion.
From the Paper "Nicholas and Michael never knew their illustrious grandmother as they were too young to have true or strong memories of her as she died when they were still youths, and they also lost their father at the early age of five and three respectively. That is not to say that her rearing did not still influence them, indirectly, throughout their adolescence. Nicholas had reported to have vague memories of Paul and considered his sudden death at the hands of his own courtiers to be the most traumatic moment or envisagement in his life until his own accession and the Decembrist revolt. Thus, for both Nicholas and Michael, their mother was the primary force behind their upbringing with strong matriarchal influence from their grandmother Catherine the Great and her philosophies."
From the Paper " In Baldesar Castiglione's The Courtier the clever circle of courtiers presents a vision of what a courtier should be. In addition, they discuss the question of what a court lady should be. Though this discussion of women takes up most of Book Three, the strategies that the men employ on the subject of women are not limited to that one conversation. Women are mentioned in various ways throughout the book. The remarks of Gaspare Pallavicino, noted for his disparagement of women, are the most obviously negative. But the overt discussion of women's qualities is not the only context in which the courtiers' ideas about women become apparent. Throughout the book there are also casual mentions of women as a group or of individual women. The nature of these passing remarks, the behavior of the women present at the conversations, and the general absence of women.."
Abstract Within John Webster's works, "The Duchess of Malfi" and "The White Devil", there are many messages about the results and realities of chivalry. Within these two works there is constant interplay between courtly reward and courtly desertion, with issues of class extremely volatile subjects. This paper shows, using Webster's works as examples, that the issue of courtly love in Renaissance drama is one utterly surrounded by high emotion, intrigue, and secrecy.
From the Paper "Those men and women who overstep the boundaries of convention and disturb the honor code are friendless. There are many ways to overstep the role of the honorable, not the least of which is through flagrant acts of outranking love. The prince and the courtier, as well as the women who are often the objects of unquenchable desire are charged with the role of social police."
Abstract The paper relates that in many ways, Edward IV improved the lives of the courtiers and the commoners. The paper also shows how he spent many of his years at war, actually lost his throne for a brief period, overspent and overtaxed his subjects and struggled with court intrigue mostly brought on by power playing families. The paper concludes, however, that Edward can be considered a great king for several reasons, including the fact that he left England a far more stable and strong country than when he had became king.
From the Paper "Edward IV was born in Rouen, France, on April 28, 1442, to Richard, Duke of York, and his young wife, Cecily Neville. At the time, Richard was serving as Lieutenant-General of English France, a position that took the young couple away from their homeland and set up the baby Edward for a life dominated by military action. Cecily was from a prestigious family in Northumberland. When her family was united with the House of York through the marriage, it was obvious that their children would be part of the court. Historians have long speculated about the paternity of young Edward as he did not resemble his father at all and his mother was suspected of having a relationship with a guardsman named Blackburn. However, no real evidence has ever been presented to support that supposition."
Tags: York, Lancaster, white, red, roses, Elizabeth, Woodville, Warwick
Abstract In this essay the writer examines Hamlet from a Marxist perspective. It is shown how the class structure associated with a feudal society drives the action in Hamlet. Particular attention is placed on the relationships between the royal family and their courtiers. The writer notes that these relationships show how the class system associated with a feudal society results in an aloof upper class that exploits a subservient lower class. The writer concludes that a Marxist criticism looks at how class, material production and the history of material production can influence a work. The writer maintains that Hamlet can be successfully analysed using a Marxist perspective.
Outline:
Introduction
Thesis
Historical Context/Material Context
General relationship
Upper Class Exploitation of Lower class
Lower Class Encouraging their Exploitation
Conclusion
From the Paper "Denmark in the twelfth century was a feudal society. This meant that the economy was based primarily on agriculture and wealth was determined by how much land a person controlled. Feudal societies have a very strong class hierarchy with clearly defined upper classes and lower classes. In this type of society the upper classes essentially lived pampered lives of luxury by controlling the land and exploiting the lower classes. Essentially the upper classes control the means of production (land) and the lower classes sell their labour in order to survive. As a result of these material relationships the upper class is clearly dominant and the lower classes are subservient to them."
"This type of relationship is clearly apparent in Hamlet. The upper class lives in absolute luxury and is mostly preoccupied with their personal issues."
