Rabelais's contempt for fortune : pantagruelism, politics, and philosophy / Timothy Haglund.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Haglund, Timothy, 1987- author.

Series:

Politics, literature, & film

Politics, literature, and film

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Rabelais, François, approximately 1490-1553?--Criticism and interpretation.

Rabelais, François.

Rabelais, François, approximately 1490-1553?--Political and social views.

Rabelais, François, approximately 1490-1553?.

Politics in literature.

Fortune in literature.

Political and social views.

Criticism and interpretation.

Genre:

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Physical Description:

ix, 167 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Lanham : Lexington Books, [2019]

Summary:

Francois Rabelais wrote Gargantua and Pantagruel at the height of the Renaissance, when top-caliber thinkers aimed to unite the best of freshly rediscovered ancient Greco-Roman theory and practice and transform politics. Through his work, Rabelais offers his unique understanding of ancient philosophy and political thought. This book considers the role of fortune as the key to understanding Rabelais, much in the manner of contemporaries such as Machiavelli. The two could not be more different, however. Throughout his writings, Rabelais attempts to restore respect for the goddess Fortuna through a cheerful restatement of the case for the sober classical attitude toward future things. As Rabelais's headstrong character Panurge seeks counsel regarding his marriage prospects, various authorities repeatedly warn him that cuckoldry and spousal abuse await. Panurge looks foolhardy during these admonitions. Far from affirming Machiavelli's instruction, given in chapter 25 of The Prince, to beat fortune like a woman, Rabelais dramatizes Panurge learning that his future femme may beat him. Through this dramatization, Panurge begins to hear the merits of viewing fortune as an intractable part of life that must be shouldered with the proper inner disposition rather than as an object susceptible of human conquest.

Contents:

Our religion, the political state, and private life

Interpreting Rabelais pantagruelically

Philosophers as citizens : Diogenism, Machiavellianism, Pantagruelism

Interpreting Machiavelli pantagruelically

Dutiful philosophy : the role of Debvoir in Panurge's outlook

Panurge versus the authorities

Blowing bubbles, understanding nature : nature and the pantagruelion herb

Back to Diogenes' barrel

and tomb.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 155-162) and index.

Other Format:

Ebook version :

ISBN:

9781498575454

1498575455

OCLC:

1052877604