The Praises of Folly: Understanding the World of Renaissance Through the Voice of Literature, Essay Example

Literature has long been considered as the mirror of the society from which the said pieces of written creation has been based on. Relatively, the same thing is true when it comes to the representations used in the narratives of The Praises of Folly by Faustino Perisauli in parallel condition of the presentations used in the Ship of Fools written by Sebastian Brant. Both written works take the satiric genre of literature trying to mirror the conditions of the society the writers are living in. Most likely, the focal point of both works defines the occurrence of folly and dismay that was happening in the administration of the churches during the renaissance era.

Take note that Folly, the main character in the excerpts of Erasmus is defined as woman parading as a goddess due to the fact that she belongs to the elite society. Having deities as her guidance she believes that she has been given the gift to influence. This thought she carried caused her to praise herself and make relative indications of self definition that made it possible for her to say that she is the source of everything beautiful that there was during her time. In short, she wanted to point out how utterly blessed she was that she deserves all the praises she could get from the society she is living with.

In a way, the attitude of Folly represents that of the status of the church and its administrators specifically looking at themselves as utterly blessed and well defined in their course of living making it easier for them to consider their function to be most important in the society. Because of this thought, members of the church’s administration believe that they are given the right to direct and to manifest control over the communities they are enjoined in.

The same thing is true with the representations utilized in the narration of the Ship of Fools which is directly indicating the need for reformation in churches and the administrations that they are governed with. Noting that the church is already using its authority and power in an overly controlling manner, Brant argues in his writing that transformations ought to be considered. These particular written works obviously created a sense of informative perception among readers of the renaissance era, helping the realize the supposed awakening they are expected to recognize in line with the real role of the church in their communities.

References:

Desiderius Erasmus (2008). The Praise of Folly. Rockville, Maryland: Arc Manor LLC.

W Gillis, trans. (1971).  The Ship of Fools. Rockville, Maryland: Arc Manor LLC.

H. Herford, The Literary Relations of England and Germany in the 16th Century (1886). Discusses the influence of Brant in England.

Lach, Donald F. (1994). Asia in the Making of Europe, Volume II: A Century of Wonder. University of Chicago Press.