Renaissance Prose and Theater: Machiavelli to Cervantes
Renaissance Thought and Prose
The Renaissance marked a shift from the Middle Ages, adapting Greco-Roman classics to modern times. This required rethinking all aspects of life through the lens of humanism. This need led to new models of thought in prose, distinct from those of the Middle Ages. In Europe, the most influential thinkers from Italy were Niccolò Machiavelli and Baldassare Castiglione.
- Niccolò Machiavelli: In his work, *The Prince*, Machiavelli argues that the end justifies the means, and the power of the state is embodied in the prince or ruler.
- Baldassare Castiglione: Castiglione presented a model of behavior for Renaissance nobility in his major work, *The Courtier*.
Thinkers like Erasmus of Rotterdam sought to reconcile classical culture with Christian faith, aiming for spiritual renewal within the church and harmony among all Christians. Thomas More, in his work *Utopia*, presented a theory of the perfect state. Michel de Montaigne skeptically analyzed society, dominated by inflexible and irrational rules, in his *Essays*.
Renaissance Prose in Spain
Spain was among the first European countries to embrace humanist thought, which greatly influenced various genres:
- Historical Prose: In the 16th century, many writers chronicled events in Spain. Important historians documented the Spanish arrival in America and the fascination with the new continent. Bernal Díaz del Castillo, a soldier-writer, described the arrival of the Spanish in Mexico with simple prose in *The True History of the Conquest of New Spain*. Fray Bartolomé de las Casas wrote *A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies*, accusing the Spanish of destroying indigenous peoples.
- Didactic Prose: This aimed to propose and teach a new model of humanity based on the moral values of Renaissance humanists. Fray Antonio de Guevara, author of *The Contempt of Court and Praise of the Village*, is a key figure, advocating for a quiet, integrated life away from court.
- The Dialogue: A literary genre derived from Latin and especially the works of Plato, it is based on the exposition of ideas. The most important Renaissance dialogue is *Dialogue on Language* by Juan de Valdés.
Miguel de Cervantes
Born in 1547 in Alcalá de Henares, Miguel de Cervantes was educated as a Renaissance man. In 1570, he served as a soldier. Captured by Turks on his return to Spain, he spent five years as a captive in Algiers. Back in Spain, he struggled to survive and was imprisoned due to financial debts. He died on April 23, 1616, in Madrid.
Cervantes’ Life in His Writing:
- Self-Portrait: In the preface to his exemplary novels, Cervantes wrote a description of himself.
- Military Service: Cervantes took pride in being a soldier.
- Italian Influence: Cervantes considered himself a Renaissance man and greatly admired Italy.
- Literature: Literature was the center of his life.
Cervantes’ Works:
- Theater: Classic plays, comedies, and interludes.
- Poetry: Italian meters, traditional poetry, and long poems.
*La Galatea*
Cervantes’ first novel, *La Galatea*, is a pastoral novel adhering to Renaissance genre rules: noble heroes disguised as shepherds fall in love and reflect on love with elevated language. It is written in prose, though poems in verse sometimes appear. Cervantes’ narrative reveals the tension between the idealized pastoral world (representing a happy life in contact with nature) and the harsh reality of the late 16th-century crisis. This tension is most evident in *Don Quixote*.
Renaissance Theater
Sixteenth-century Spanish drama originated in Italian Renaissance theater. From 1450, the new Italian bourgeoisie, promoting culture and the study of classical antiquity, turned their mansions into stages. This led to a new kind of secular theatrical spectacle, unrelated to religion, unlike medieval theater. The most representative forms of this new secular theater were the *commedia dell’arte* and, later, Italian comedy.
Lope de Rueda
Lope de Rueda represented the triumph of Italian comedy in Spanish theater. His best-known works are short plays called *pasos*, which were interspersed within longer works. He wrote in prose and used colloquial language, always with a comic ending. His sense of humor is evident in the beginning of his comedy *Eufemia*.