Humanities & Classics 1002
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Renaissance Forum
Humanities & Classics 1002 |
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In Reply to: PLEASE POST YOU FIRST REQUIRED POSTING AS A REPLY TO THIS posted by TOM BACIG on December 13, 1998 at 19:30:06:
The view of man and his role on Earth is contrasted greatly between the midevil and Renaissance periods. This difference can be seen in the movie, "The Name of the Rose" and also in the readings by Kempis and Mirandola. Views on many things seemed to have changed almost completely between these periods.
In the midevil writing example by Kempis, he repeats over and over that in order for man to reach heaven he must himself look inward and feel lower than all others. One was not to be loud, to laugh, to think for himself for these acts would not allow one to pass into an after life in heaven. "...The meek man He[God] loveth...to the meek man he granteth great grace...He[God] lifteth him in glory." These partial quotes from Kempis demonstrate the overall feeling during midevil times. One was not suppossed to challenge ideas or behaviors but rather conform to a meek and quiet way of life. Any behavior that would disrupt this mundane form of life would be punished in the after life. To me, perhaps the strongest statement made by Kempis on the way that man should operate is, "Learn to despise outward things..." outward things meaning people, meaning books, meaning new ideas. Man became not a human but rather a biblical robot just passing through Earth on his journy to heaven and one wrong move would mean an after life spent in hell. Man was not allowed to think but rather told to think as well as what his thoughts should be.
An excellent example of this way of life was represented in monastic life in the movie, "The Name of the Rose." In fact, the movie centered around the fact that there was a book that was letting men laugh and think for themselves which surly must have been an act by the devil. For one was not allowed to do such things. Work and Prayer were the only jobs that one had on this Earth. Anything else would lead them on a path to hell. They believed that God saved them whereas in the Renaissance, man saved God.
The writings of Mirandola present a completely different view on life and how man was allowed to think and behave. Man was seen as being an inbetween creature. He was not the lowest of beings, as thought of by their midevil counterparts. There were no limits on what one may think, no fixed position as thought of by midevil man. God had given the Renaissance man the power of free will. "...With greater freedom of choice and with more honor...fashion thyself in whatever shape thou shalt prefer." These are powerful words! Man now felt that he could expand what his knowledge of things, all things. Nothing was off limits. He could develop ideas that were revolutionary with the knowledge that God wanted him to do so. This is why art and philosophy flourished so...it wasn't seen as being wrong but rather encouraged! The midevil robot was replaced by free thinking man. What a completely revolutionary time the renaissance was.
As one can see, these two periods though not that far apart, differ greatly in their ideas on what was and was not accepted by God. The way that one was supposed to live his life was almost completely controdicted during these two periods and the readings of Kempis and Mirandola clearly show these differences.