Allusions To Myths In Romeo And Juliet

Praise of Folly

Ironic, irreverent, surprisingly current Praise of Folly is the most famous, loved and discussed the great humanist Erasmus of Rotterdam. So says the madness firsthand that extols the virtues of herself and all the critical categories of the human race unmasking the hypocrisy, the miseries and weaknesses. The madness does not spare anyone, even popes, cardinals, bishops, monks, kings, philosophers, jurists, poets are stripped of their cloak of authority and wisdom and laid bare in their vices and defects. And so the madness is revealed wisdom, telling it like it is without delay, and outspoken. But the ' Praise is not just a playful critique, an intellectual paradox, it is also revived the Gospel message in its purity, authenticity and moral force is the call to true Christian values. A deeper meaning
immersed in a simple text and clear. Despite numerous references to the classical world and the greek-roman mythology, the reading is for everyone, learned and less learned. Astonishing modernity of the work written in 1511, reflecting the fact that the time pass by, but some habits do not change (it's appropriate to say that 'Praise is a timeless classic.) Wonder the same Erasmus, a man of the church, without fear that delivers a harsh attack on the immorality of the powerful and especially of the clergy. Too bad for that bit of machismo - Erasmo comparing women to animals, considered to be devoid of rationality acting on instinct - that of a woman, I did turn up a little 'nose. But basically it is understandable, Erasmus was a man of his time, a time when women were held in very little consideration. For the rest, the reader can only agree with the author and applaud the speech is "his" madness. To praise!

Erasmus of Rotterdam (right, in a painting by Hans Holbein the Younger, 1523) was born in Holland in the night between 27 and 28 October, according to some in 1466, according to others of 1469. Theologian, philosopher and exponent of Christian humanism, he signed his writings under the name of Desiderius Erasmus. His best known work is the 'Praise of Folly who dedicated his friend Thomas More. He died in Basel in the night between 11 and 12 July 1536.
RATING: 4.5 / 5

Title: The Praise of Folly
Original title: Moriae encomium, id est, laus stulticiae
Author: Erasmo from Rotterdam
Curator: Eugenio Garin
Publisher: Mondadori (Oscar classics series)
Year: 1992