Petrarch and Machiavelli Francesco Petrarch Petrarch and Humanism

Petrarch and Machiavelli

Francesco Petrarch

Petrarch and Humanism • Known as the Father of Humanism (early Renaissance thinker 1304 -1374) • (Experience on Mount Ventoux made him focus on glory of the individual)

Writing Style • (Wrote to letters to Roman poets that died hundreds of years before Petrarch was born) • Most famous work: Il Canzoniere, contained sonnets written to his love, Laura

Love placed me as a target idling by, like snow in sunlight, or wax in the fire, like a cloud in the wind: I grow weak and tire, Lady, calling for your mercy: many times I try. The mortal blow issued from your eyes, against which no time or place is inspired: from you alone proceed, and it seems your desire To make a game of the sun, fire, and wind up high Your thoughts are arrows, your face the sun, and passion is fire: just how, you see Love pierces, dazzles, and melts me: Your angelic singing and your speech, with your sweet spirit from which nothing can be done, are the breeze before which my heart is breached.

Niccolo Machiavelli

The Prince (1532) • Treatise on government that supported absolute power of the ruler • Ends justify the means (evil actions done with good intentions are okay) • Leader should do good when possible, evil when necessary

https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=CMag. D q. JDc. Lc

You have captured a terrorist that knows of an impending attack on a major American city, but he is a hardened character. You cannot be certain that he will crack in time to save the city. You have also captured his wife and children (who are innocent of the crime and unaware of their husband/father’s doings). Would you be willing to torture them in the hopes that he would give details on the terror attack in time to prevent it and save countless lives?

Petrarch • Create a 14 line sonnet dealing with theme of humanism (individual achievement or human dignity). Something celebrating what it means to be human • Try to follow the Petrarchan rhyme scheme: A, B, B, A – C, D, D, E, C, E Machiavelli Create a skit with a partner or group (2 -3 people) that shows how a Machiavellian politician could react to the following situations: • A rival political leader running for the same office as you, how do you secure victory? • You become the president of a country, what are your first three actions?