Independent Women Courtesans in the Italian Renaissance
Prostitution is normally thought of as anyone who sells his or her body for money. In this century, no distinction is put on the class level of the prostitute or on how much or how little he or she earns, they are still considered just a common prostitute. This was not true of 16th century Italy, though. In this age, prostitution was a legal business and class lines were of great importance. At the top of this list were the honest courtesans; honest because they believed they acquired their capital through honest means. They redefined the male humanist category of virtue as a woman's intellectual integrity and used this, their outstanding wit and intelligence, along with their bodies to earn their living. The courtesans of Italy, especially Venice and Rome, were the flowers of the city. Visited almost exclusively by the men of the upper class, the courtesans had to project an image of sophistication and nobility. They held their own with the male nobility and were often admired and considered intellectual equals by these men. Unlike the imprisoned and sheltered noble women of Italy, either enslaved in an arranged marriage or locked up in a convent, the courtesans were independent and free to do as they wished. Precursors to the modern women of today, the courtesans of 16th century Italy were intelligent and well read, they earned their living by their beauty and wit, and were mistresses of their own fate.
To completely understand the life of the courtesans, one must first realize what made these women choose the life of a prostitute. In Italy at this time, women had very few choices. The only virtuous and "honest" choices for girls entering their teens...
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In the book, Giovanni and Lusanna, by Gene Bucker, he discusses the scandalous actions of a Florentine woman taking a wealthy high status man to court over the legality of their marriage. Published in 1988, the book explains the legal action taken for and against Lusanna and Giovanni, the social affects placed on both persons throughout their trial, and the roles of both men and women during the time. From the long and complicated trial, it can be inferred that women’s places within Florentine society were limited compared to their male counterparts and that women’s affairs should remain in the home. In this paper, I will examine the legal and societal place of women in Florentine society during the Renaissance. Here, I will argue that women were the “merchandise” of humanity and their main objective was to produce sons.
But in that time, all that mattered was who a person was and their connections. Giovanni was a young man from a family with much respect and power. Because of his family, Giovanni was held at upper class and had money, which meant he could have had any women he chose. Giovanni also had lots of connections to many people within the society. He believed that the upper classes will always the power no matter where or when a person lives. Lusanna, on the other hand had no power compared to Giovanni. Lusanna came from a not so wealthy family. Her father was am artisan, and worked very hard to have them survive. She was very beautiful and had many lovers before was arranged to a marriage. She married Andrea who later
In the traditional political history of Italy the people outside of the ruling class of the society were rarely studied. Only with the use of social history did the issues of class and gender begin to be debated by scholars. Numerous recent articles have done a great job of analysing particularly men of high status. In this paper I will look at the lower classes of Renaissance Florence. More specifically, I will center my focus on the lives of women during this era, how they were treated and viewed by people of other classes and how women were viewed and treated by men.
What if women never established rights? The world would not be the place it is today if that was the case. Women are able to do just as much as men are and even more. What if men were treated the same way as women were one thousand years ago? They would have felt just as the women did, hurt because the treatment between men and women was unfair. The fact that men and women were not treated equally was wrong in many ways, but that was the way of life during those times. In the British culture, from the Anglo-Saxon to the Renaissance time period, the men were respected on a higher level than women, and women were to always be subservient to men, which were demonstrated throughout many works of literature.
In eighteenth century novels, a common means of discussing the role of women in society is through the characterization of two good sisters. The heroine of such a novel is a pure, kind young woman who also has a streak of spunkiness. Her sister may be more good and kind, but she is more submissive and reserved. I would like to look at these sisters (and their mothers) in Ann Radcliffe’s A Sicilian Romance , and The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole.
Robin, Diana, Anne B. Larsen, and Carole Evans, eds. Encyclopedia of Women in the Renaissance: Italy, France and England. Santa Barbara: Abc Clio, 2007.
Another trait that is shared is the theme of prostituting women. Venice was known for its courtesan class, a group of well-dressed prostitutes. In both plays the virtue of a young woman is compromised by men seeking to increase their own fortunes. I n Volpone, Corvino makes a whore out of his wife Celia by offering her to the men around town, and in the play's climactic scene, to Volpone himself. In either instance, Corvino is thinking of his own financial gain and not of the injustice he brings to his wife.
During this time in society the industry of prostitution was an economic gold mine. The women operate the brothel while very distinguished men in the community own and take care of the up keep. The brothel keepers are seen as nothing more than common home wrecking whores. However, the owners of the brothels are viewed as successful business men.
These women are not as well off as the aforementioned groups of women. These women are expected to not only fit into their place in society, but also to guide their husband in the right financial place. Where widows were to get advisors to help make their decisions, artisans’ wives were to “…firmly…convince him to accept any work,” unless he could not complete it with skill. This woman was incharge of reigning in her husband. De Pizan writes that “she should also encourage her husband to let them live within their income so that their expenses will not be greater than their earnings, (de Pizan).” This is crucial for this time period because there was nowhere an artisan could get a loan if he were in trouble. The wife was to ensure that he made a proper income, did not accept credit, and did his work. She was the backbone to the operation, and ensured that the family was kept afloat. Women of this group “must make sure that she knows the craft so well that she can direct the workmen if her husband is not there and reprove them if they do not work well (de Pizan).” These woman held so much power yet none at all. In society they were not to gossip but within their husbands business they were able to command workers. How is it that a woman can be in charge of a group but not yet in charge of herself? She was also tasked with tending the house. De Pizan picks fun of women in this group, as they are the
Prostitution in the nineteenth century was perhaps one of the most degrading positions for a woman during the era. Identified by dress, makeup, and forward mannerisms, a woman employed within the business was avoided by all respectable persons. Once tainted by the immoral sin a woman could never return to good g...
The Merchant of Venice is a play set in a very male and Christian dominated society where other religions and women rights weren’t very well accepted by the community. However Portia, a rich woman who had previously been controlled by men, triumphs as she manipulates tricks and saves the lives of the men.
The definition of Renaissance women is fundamentally important in William Shakespeare's play Othello. One of the major causes of Othello's tragedy is his belief that Desdemona is not chaste. According to the men of the Renaissance, chastity, silence, and obedience are three attributes that define Renaissance women. Although Othello takes place during the Renaissance, the women in the play, Bianca, Desdemona and Emilia, defy traditional norms by lacking at least one of the major attributes defining women; Bianca's lack of chastity is clearly displayed when she unlawfully sleeps with Cassio; Desdemona's lack of silence is clearly displayed when she constantly urges Othello to give Cassio's position back. However, in the last two acts, Emilia displays the strongest challenge to the definition of Renaissance women as silent, chaste, and obedient, mainly to defend Desdemona.
The social hierarchy of ancient Rome reflected these views of sex as a means in gaining political power where the elite upper class male possesses certain rights and powers that later allow him the personal gain of a valued wife. The value of a wife increased in this period of sex and power, now changing the responsibilities of the common housewife from domestic tasks to the responsibility of boosting the male kin’s careers behind the scenes, a useful pawn in the game of elite male politics. The growing power of women grew into their personal accounts as well at the same time trade influences luxury in Rome. This period of laziness and luxury formed the era of moral deprivation and in turn enforcing the social lows of sex within class and the negative implications of pederasty as well as homoeroticism. This constant interweaving of sex and politics creates this era of social hierarchy or rank and marriage as a means for political gain, all of which encompassing the great journey of the Roman population in their deviance from Greece and into the spotlight of mistress of the
In the 16th century, women and men were defined as having specific and contrasting roles within society. Men were defined as being powerful and dominant while women were defined as being submissive and meek. These ideals can be seen across cultures and throughout time. With these definitions of gender roles in place, the text suggests that gender is a social construct therefore qualities of femininity and masculinity are subjective. This is shown when Portia cross dresses as the lawyer Balthazar (IV) and when the truths of the rings are discovered by the two women (V). The strong female characters in the play exemplify that women are not confined to their social construct as they manipulate the male characters. During the 16th century only
The play, The Merchant of Venice drastically altered the perception of women during the time as Shakespeare makes women during the Italian Renaissance appear independent and intellectual, such as the beautiful Portia and the young Jessica. This play shows that women are not only beautiful people to look at but also powerful and intelligent individuals. The characteristics of the women in this play show the possibilities of equality between men and