In the book, Love and Marriage in Renaissance Europe, Giovanni and Lusanna, written by Gene Brucker, a historian who researched and studied about love and marriage during the Renaissance time period, analysis how social classes in marriage are defined by wealth. He also explains the treatment of men that has an upper class status and how bribery is utilized in the decision making process. Brucker presents an account of a marriage agreement that took place according to Lusanna, but Giovanni denied those claims. The city of Florence was ruled by the Medici family for generations, which held an enormous amount of power beginning with Cosimo, who “dispensed favors to his allies, clients, and creatures in the form of offices, loans, remission …show more content…
Giovanni della Casa, an aristocrat (nobility), someone that possesses rank and privileges. Lusanna was an artisan woman that was less wealthy and powerful. Finally, a woman stood up against the prevailing men of Florence to be recognized that love and marriage can coexist between the poor and wealthy, “one woman’s struggle to gain a measure of personal independence in a male-dominate world (93). Although, Lusanna was married, she caught Giovanni’s attention and they pursued one another. As time passed on they fell in love with each other, with Giovanni promising to marry Lusanna. Lusanna filed a case against Giovanni, accusing him of marrying another woman while married to her. Giovanni denied her accusation and denied ever marrying Lusanna. Archbishop Antoninus; a high-level leader of the Church presided over the case against Giovanni della Casa. Antoninus was also completely incorruptible, meaning he could do absolutely no wrong. When Cosimo de’ Medici, the most powerful and richest man in Florence presented a potential bribe to Antoninus, “asked the archbishop to rule in his favor on a case before his court” (13). Archbishop Antoninus responded to the high class citizen of Florence, “'it was not necessary to [to petition him], for if he was in the right, justice would be rendered to him, as it would be to the lowliest man in Florence'” …show more content…
Through communication with her son -in -law, Marco Parenti, she would learn of any other prospects and will also “learn if he (Francesco) wishes to give her [in marriage]” (37). Now, Francesco is well known in Florence and has been in office. He is well-respected and has raised his daughter in a suitable manner. So, what is the reason for his desire to marry his daughter to someone in exile? The following were three reasons that were given. First, “there aren’t many young men of good family who had both virtue and property”. Second, “she has only a small dowry, 1000 florins, which is the dowry of an artisan” Third, “I believe that he will give her away, because he has a large family and he will need help to settle them…” (38). Francesco told Marco that he heard of his inquiries about her and that when they made up their minds, “she will come to us willingly” and that the dowry he had for her was small. This is a reason why he wants her to marry outside of Florence. (38). Although, Francesco felt in the beginning that marriage outside of Florence would be beneficial, he later retracted that thought and felt “it would be a serious matter to send his daughter so far away [to Naples], and to a house that might be described as a hotel” (40). It appears that Alessandra is angry with Francesco decision because she thought that if her son married he
The story of Giovanni and Lusanna has a lot more content then what the title portrays it to be. What I mean by that is that it is entirely based on the factual account of what happened
Gene Brucker offers insight into the lives and minds of 15th century Italy through a court case about Giovanni and Lusanna’s involving the legality of their marriage. He utilized several primary sources to provide a descriptive narrative of this case. Even though Brucker used primary sources, primarily notarial sources, these show clear evidence of bias, and in turn these biases are reflected in his work. To begin with, Brucker’s primary material falls into the legal category, notarial sources, from Ser Filippo Mazzaei. Although these legal works supply the evidence and court battle that occurred, these don’t provide a clear voice to the defendant, Giovanni, nor the plaintiff, Lusanna.
The girlfriend had a child that Garavito got along with very well. Garavito was known by his friends to be kind but yet he would get very easily angered. Being the eldest in the family means that you have a lot of responsibility. Parents will often look to the eldest child for support with looking after the younger children.
Are We Courtiers and Ladies? Castiglione was a polished courtier that immersed from the surroundings of Italian nobility. Living and breathing the life of a courtier, Castiglione wrote an etiquette guideline for both men and women in hopes of grooming others in the likeness of a proper lady or courtier. The Book of a Courtier distinguished characteristics that both sexes were to acquire and attain. In this handbook, Castiglione states that men should be rugged, protective, and soldier-like; yet possess qualities of scholar and well-manner.
When peace was finally made two years later between the Papal and the Imperial factions, Charles V agreed to militarily restore Florence to the Medici. After a restriction of eleven months, Alessandro was brought back as the Emperor 's designated head of state. In 1532, the new Florentine constitution stated Alessandro the permanent gonfalonier of the republic. Though his common sense and his feeling for justice won his subjects ' affection, the others in sympathy with the displaced opposition hated Alessandro and accused him of using his power to sexually exploit the public. However, only two illegitimate children with the possibility of a third, have been attributed to him and even these he fathered with one woman, Taddea Malespina, a distant cousin of
William Shakespeare’s The Tempest and Measure for Measure are very similar in that they both raise controversial questions, mostly focusing on the theme of power. Shakespeare displays many forms of power in different ways through Prospero in The Tempest and through the Duke in Measure for Measure. These forms of power include the power of love, the desire for power amongst men, the power of an authority over his subjects, and the power of magic(Prospero) and of manipulation(the Duke). The purpose of this paper is to address the problematic relationship between power and the intention of the major characters to teach others a lesson, albeit with different tactics.
Women in the 1600s to the 1800s were very harshly treated. They were seen as objects rather than people. They were stay-at-home women because people didn’t trust them to hold jobs. They were seen as little or weak. Women living in this time period had to have their fathers choose their husbands.
A Marriage in Shambles When a marriage is consummated, vows of commitment and persevering through both sickness and health are considered key aspects. However, many people choose to forego these vows years later, through actions such as adultery. As a result, these relationships are oftentimes “put on the rocks”, and later terminated. Yet in certain situations, people choose to preserve through it and commitment is put to the test. In The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, the two main characters, Elizabeth and John Proctor, clearly face a struggle of intentions.
Posing as a tutor allows him to not only grow close to Bianca, but also to Baptista. Earning Baptista’s trust is essential to him gaining Bianca’s hand in marriage and her dowry. Although Bianca is highly sought after, Baptista favors her over her sister, Katherine, and thus shields her from potential suitors. Lucentio not only uses his disguise to deceive Bianca, but he is deceived. Lucentio attempts to be clever in order to “win” Bianca, but Bianca is not what she seems to be. All the suitors want to marry Bianca because she is beautiful and
In Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin the lost soul that is David would much rather “play it safe” than live his best life. He does this because he has grown to be ashamed of his sexuality and who is in general. The author of this novel James Baldwin once said “love takes off the masks we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.” Since David is ashamed of himself he pretends to be someone he’s not and hides behind this “mask” of deceit in order to feel secure his body and in the unaccepting society he lives in. He grows so accustomed to this mask that he rejects love and the nakedness of vulnerability that would come with taking off this mask.
People would talk. They’d say that she didn’t wait long enough or she's making a fool of herself... if she gets involved with a man within a year people say that she is a sex-maniac.” (pg 151-152) This is a perfect example of the double standards that still apply to some men and women today. In the Italian community it is perfectly acceptable, even expected that, should something happens to a man’s wife, he remarry.
An arranged marriage was the norm during the Renaissance period because of the many advantages. According to William Shakespeare info website practically every marriage in Renaissance time included a dowry. The dowry was all the property or money brought forth by the bride to her husband on their wedding day. Once the dowry was finalized the bride was essentially her husband’s property. In the book The Family, Sex, Marriage book it says in most circumstances the eldest son would inherit all of the family’s money.
Women’s Rights In Romeo and Juliet Juliet being forced into marriage, showed how little input women had during the Renaissance period. Renaissance is a period in which the ancient writing of Greece and Rome, “Rebirthed”, or came back into practice. During the Renaissance period, women had limited, to no rights. They were required to follow orders made by their husband’s or superior male figure. This is presented in the play Romeo and Juliet made by William Shakespeare.
Tartuffe is an excellent example of a neoclassical drama seeing that to be perfect is to be inhuman. Human nature is complete with many flaws and imperfections, same way as represented in the play "Tartuffe", by Moliere. As a result, “Tartuffe” is a really good example to present the basic flaw in human nature. This flaw is shown through two characters of the play, Orgon and Madame Pernelle , the mother of Orgon. These two are blind to the truth regarding Tartuffe and fall victim to his manipulation.
In the book, “The Courtier” Castiglione mentions certain traits that are essential for the man that will the title of being a courtier. Specifically, in his writing, he expands on the meaning of grace, affectation, and nonchalance. This is revealed in a series of conversations during the game that was to be performed in the Duchess’ favor. He talks about these characteristics in in an effort to give an idea of the specific traits the most perfect courtier must have. The qualities must not only be shown but they must also be genuinely come from within.