Social Classes In The Leopard

Trying not to overstep the boundaries of the citizens to get kicked out of power or not doing enough that they replace you. With the power gained from leading it is expected that other princes will try to take power away so the only way to prevent this from happening is to make alliances and maintaining a strong military. Later on, in the novel Machiavelli goes on to focus on what qualities a prince should have and how virtu plays a role in making a proper prince. Although a short novel, it is Machiavelli’s most widely known work and is responsible for creating a negative view on rulers/politicians and also making it seem like anything you do, even immoral, is justifiable if the end goal is worth it. Machiavelli writes “He who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation” showing that the use of immoral means is justifiable when the end goal is survival and glory. This book follows the ideals of Italian humanism from the author being from Florence, the heart of the renaissance, dedicating the novel to Lorenzo de’ Medici, an example of a man who invested a lot in helping people learn about philosophy and such subjects to become better humanists.

The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli was created as a gift to Lorenzo de ' Medici, this gift was what Machiavelli considered to be most precious, it served as an “opportunity of understanding in the shortest time all that I have learnt in so many years.” Written initially in Italian, Machiavelli used this gift as a chance to teach young Medici to how be a successful prince, but first let us better understand a bit more about Machiavelli’s early life and the events that occurred that lead him to write this primary source. .

The diaries of Buonaccorso Pitti and Gregorio Dati have shown the multiple masculinities that are present for Renaissance Florentine merchant elites. Each of these men have led a different lifestyle, during a different frame of time, but each of them has written a diary that they knew their families will read. In these diaries, the men told stories about their lives from their own perspective and reflect the values and expectations from that age. Even though their stories may differ, a common theme in both diaries is masculinity and its features that are essential to merchant elites. The ideal man in the Renaissance Florence has honor, bravery and nobility, values their family and the importance of lineage and upholds a reputation in business and relationships with others.

Through the study of the records of courts, both secular and ecclesiastical, which exists in thousands of European and American archives and libraries, a patient and careful researcher can reconstruct particular images of “the world we have lost” and of the people who inhabited that world. From this vast, largely untapped repository of judicial records, Gene Brucker uses the notarial protocols of Ser Filippo Mazzei, which contains the transcripts of the litigation in the archiepiscopal court and the catasto records, which provides information about Florentine households, to piece together the dossier of Giovanni and Lusanna. The story of Giovanni and Lusanna explores the love and marriage in renaissance Florence and uncovers the gradation of the city’s social hierarchy and the role of women in society.

Therefore, this introduction and analysis of fifteenth-century Italian painting arises from looking at social relations. Through the institutional authorization, Baxandall examines the integration of social, cultural and visual evaluations. The author explores visual art not only from a social construction, but also looks at the major role it plays in social orders such as interactions between individuals or between larger social groups.

Brucker uses these individuals and their story to analyze renaissance society as a whole. Throughout the book, he emphasizes the strict social hierarchy and expectations of each class. He argues that although theoretically the same rules applied to every stratum of renaissance society, the standards to which each person were held and limitations they faced greatly depended on their class and gender.

“I’ll be out of here and away from all you knaves for one time anyway, as not a month will pass before you’ll see whether I’m nobody or a somebody.” The story of Bianco Alfani reflected the nature of 14th century Florentine society where, as Alfani remarked, the election to public office could make or destroy a person. In late 14th century and early 15th century Florence, decreased population and expanding commerce provided a favorable environment for ambitious individuals. The real life examples of Buonaccorso Pitti and Gregorio Dati demonstrated the positive role of ambition in Florence. Pitti, a nobleman had an extremely successful career, partaking in military campaigns, holding public office in Florence and being an ambassador to

Cosimo traditionally has been accused of destroying Florentine liberties, these ancient liberties are more of an illusion than a reality, he only had to make the formula of those he was evicting. To not be taken by surprise like the Albizzi, he perfected the system by not changing in the law’s actual administration, but in the spirit of law he changed everything, it was a rule to fill high official positions by drawing lots. The process was manipulated so that only the names of the men who could be depended upon were drawn. The independent mood of the two municipal assemblies neutralized by making an exceptional procedure the rule by dictatorial powers were now granted for a fixed term that

Both Trimalchio and Belfort came from what was considered lower class families, and eventually gained such vast amounts of riches they obtained the mentality that everything could be bought. The wives of Trimalchio and Belfort were of low class standards until they met their husbands, where they were bought over by their husband’s fame and fortune, and ultimately stayed with them because of their wealth. Throughout their journeys both Trimalchio and Belfort took their wealth for granted, they built their lives around their wealth, and the uncertainty of life took its toll on both men. Both characters displayed great amounts of vulgarity not only through their language, but their actions as well. The story is only the surface; the characters are the true representation of two different time periods colliding to produce such stories that represent parallel characteristics.

Grenouille is further conveyed as a victim of social decay when upper class supposedly high ranked and highly respected people are portrayed as fools and almost idiots. Through Comic Irony Father Terrier is seen as an uneducated fool and childish when using the phrase “poohpeedooh”. The repetition of this phrase further illustrates the foolish nature of a highly respected person showing social decay. Moreover, presenting the upper class in France as silly and foolish shows the decay of society and how even foolish people such as Father Terrier are respected and looked up to making Grenouille a victim to this social decay as well as an outsider as he does not respect these foolish upper class people and does not follow the demands of society.

During the Renaissance the social classes were split into two main parts: the upper class and the lower class. The two classes usually committed different crimes because of their different

This book described the “ideal renaissance gentleman” through advice given by the courtier. Throughout the book are conversations between the courtiers of the Duke of Urbino, discussing the vision of a perfect court. It is an example of a dialogue, which is a popular renaissance literary structure, composed of drama and conversation. Castiglione’s work had a large impact on the aristocratic idea of the perfect English gentlemen and was thought to be an interpretation of Renaissance court life. The Book of the Courtier was a representation of the ideas and values of Renaissance Humanism, as it emphasized the growth of individual thought and character. This relates to one of the concepts of the Renaissance, “exaltation of human capacities and potential”. The value of the individual is believed to be important in the humanistic way of life. Society was starting to become more concerned with human potential and achievements. Focus was turning away from spiritual matter, and turning towards more worldly matter. This book epitomized the “universal man”, or the “renaissance man”, which is a man that excels in everything. This brings us to an important renaissance term mentioned by Castiglione, known as sprezzatura. Sprezzatura means to preform well, without appearing to have put in much effort or thought about the matter and is mentioned

In this course, we have learned about different social classes and how they developed over time. In fact, the idea of social classes has been around before what we know it as to today. The concept has not changed. The “higher” classes usually have land, money, and jewels. The “lower” classes are broke, servants, and no valuable possessions. Prior to this course, I only knew of the upper class, middle class, and lower class. In today’s society, the separation between classes is not as bad as it use to be. School is an example of this. I grew up in Cobb County, Smyrna- Vinings area and I went to school with people who parents are CEOs of companies, successful entrepreneurs or even music artist. I would consider my family middle class but we did have students who were also lower class families. Some higher-class families enroll their children in private school. Private schools charges tuition whereas public schools are free of cost. The upbringing up children can determine their social status in schools. In this essay, I will discuss “cliques” and their differences in high schools.

As mentioned by Cavallar, “Even some politicians, given to assuring both the theoretical and the actual stability of their regimes, were impressed with Guicciardini’s ideas and acted according to his notions and judgements” (Cavallar 279). His works impressed many patricians at that time; some of them even used his ideas in their political works. The recent studies on Guicciardini further verify that, even though Francesco Guicciardini lived during the period of Renaissance, his notions and judgements are applicable even today in our daily lives. As noted by Phillips, “For it is evident that on another level, the maxims remained active in his mind, still useful for the Italians” (Phillips 113). Guicciardini’s ideas and thoughts were not confined to a particular period of time but were based on the true understanding of human’s

The eighteenth century marked a period of renewal within Italy. This transition saw the acceptance of new philosophies that were rampant throughout most of Europe (Yawney 2). The Age of Enlightenment, as it has come to be known, brought upon changes within the realms of economic, social, and religious affairs. However, amidst any form of radical change come those who do not attest to it. In his fable, The Green Bird, Venetian dramatist Carlo Gozzi incorporates subject matter that attacks not only the realism seen in Carlo Goldoni’s theatre but also the thought of modern Enlightenment ideology.