Mark Imber
Cultures 292
The Courtier – Response to Question 2 In the times of the Renaissance there were distinct social levels throughout the hierarchy of the Roman culture. Through this hierarchy there were dukes, serfs, peasants, aristocrats, and one specific group called “courtiers”. The book written by, Baldesar Castiglione, The Courtier helps define exactly what this social class consisted of. This book highlights many of the areas in which one would need to excel at to be considered better than an average man, and on his way to becoming a courtier. The main idea that being a courtier stems from is that of a universal man, or known during the Renaissance, “unos universal”. This was the idea of a man who was able to be proficient in activities across the board including math, sports, music, looks and so forth. Throughout, The Courtier two men discuss and argue what exactly it means to be a courtier. Through this discussion they are creating a broad set of guidelines to teach others how to be a courtier, and a gentlemen of Rome. I think that through the entirety of this book the main message that Castiglione is trying to get across is what exactly does it take to become a courtier. Throughout the book there are countless instances where it has specific guidelines as to what it means to be a courtier. “But to come to some particulars: … true profession of the Courtier must be that of arms” (Castiglione 24). This is one instance in the book where it gives a particular aspect of what it takes to be a courtier. However, as is the theme of the book the other man discussing this topic has an opposite view of the main profession of a courtier, “I would have our Courtier descend sometimes to quieter and more peaceful exercises” (Castiglione 29). These more peaceful aspects of the Courtier relate to that of the arts and music. In this portion of The Courtier the men are discussing all the different virtuosities that one must possess in order to be a Courtier. This book provides countless guidelines and specific attributes mentioned that describe exactly what one must do and must not do in order to be a Courtier.
Along with their physical attributes they must learn how to be noble but still be able to show off. This aspect of becoming a Courtier could put forth the most difficulties in becoming a master of the gentlemen. This “prowess” as which they call it was a very distinct feature one must be able to master in order to show off all of his strengths and knowledge without gloating and showboating. “The whole art consists in saying things in such a way that they do not appear to be spoken to that end” (Castiglione 26). This quote is showing the prowess that is needed in order to showcase your skills. If you can not master this skill of “accidental gloating” then no one will be able to know the vastness of your expertise. The best part of being a Courtier was letting everyone know that you were a Courtier. In these times social status was very important because the entire hierarchy of Rome was suddenly changed due to the plague. The Bubonic Plague ravaged Rome and was the cause of the death of over 1/3 of the ancient Roman Empire. The plague changed the social order of Rome because now there was not an abundance of serfs that people were able to move their social standings. One way that the people could do this was to start going to academies and learning more things and be able to help the dukes and princes during this time. At this point in Rome every duke and prince had their personal humanist to help them look more like a universal man, because if you were to combine the strengths of the duke with that of the humanist it would create the universal man that was the ideal back in that time. “I would have him more than passably learned in letters, at least in those studies which we call the humanities” (Castiglione 52). Humanists were now becoming more popular in these times and due to their vast knowledge many humanists were trying to become Courtiers. One way they did this was by a philosophy called, “sprezzatura”. Sprezzatura relates back to the idea of showboating your looks without looking like you are trying. Sprezzatura, was a skill in which humanists really picked up on where they would were clothing that was extravagant yet simple, as to show people that what they were wearing was not a huge ordeal but they still look very good. Self-fashioning became very big during the Renaissance and it became an integral part of being a courtier. Self-fashioning was the way in which you composed yourself and the way physical appearance of yourself that others could see. The long-standing phrase, “Don’t judge a book by its cover” was tossed out the window if you wanted to become a courtier. Your first impression was not only based on the way you acted but also the way you dressed. Castiglione was very fond of this idea of the prowess of a man as an essential attribute of a Courtier. It is one of the few ideals that are presented in this guideline that is not argued upon between the two men.
This book is argued whether Castiglione was trying to put out a guideline as to how to become a courtier or whether it was just on philosophical ideals. The book does present many of the philosophical ideas that were rampant through the 16th century with the ideas of Socrates and Plato and the emergence of philosophy in this era. However, I would argue that this book has too many specific and particular aspects it mentions as to becoming a courtier that Castiglione was definitely trying to show to people what attributes one needed to gain this stately figure in their eyes. “Therefor e the Courtier must take great care to make a good impression at the start” (Castiglione 97). This is yet another example of where it shows another attribute in order to become a courtier. This is another key component of the courtier because making a good first impression is the key to having someone think highly of you. If a courtier comes off as rude or gives a bad first impression then people will not want to stay in the company of a courtier even if he might have much more to offer.
The philosophy in this book is embedded more in the writing of the book then told in the book. The style of the book as a dialogue between two men shows the philosophy that influenced the era by using the Socratic method. The Socratic method was named after famed philosopher Socrates and his way of finding the truth and coming to conclusions by asking questions. The book is an ongoing deliberation in which each man asks countless questions to explain more attributes or more in depth into topics. This is Castiglione using the Socratic method in his book to have each person describe how to become a courtier without listing off attributes. The whole book has the motif of philosophy but the subject manner that it presented in this book is most certainly guidelines or a “how to” manual to becoming a courtier. The Courtier was certainly a guide for Renaissance men who wanted to improve their social standings in Rome. The philosophical parts that were included in the manual consist of the more intellectual traits of the courtier. This included widespread knowledge of the trivium, which includes grammar, logic, and rhetoric. As well as knowledge of the quadrivium, which is arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy. The arguments of intellectuals who think that Castiglione wrote the book as a philosophical gold mine were not reading as to what was being said but how it was said. Castiglione wrote this book in a particular manner, which showcases a philosophical style popular in the 16th century. However, the purpose of this book was to convey all the attributes and the specific guidelines as to how to become a courtier.
“Now, you have asked me to write my opinion as to what form of Courtiership most befits a gentlemen” (Castiglione 1). From the very beginning of the book, Castiglione began the conversation between the two men asking the question of what it takes to be Courtier. This book is dedicated to the attributes and ideals one must possess in order to be the perfect gentlemen and in turn be adorned as a Courtier. This book presents a how to manual to men in the 16th century to help them to try and improve their social standings, which recently became available to them due to the aftermath of the plague. Castiglione wrote this book for the sole intention of presenting a guideline for all the different aspects of being a courtier. Although there is philosophy embedded throughout the text the main purpose of this book was to inform and guide the men of these times to hone their skills and talents to become a Courtier.