All throughout history, women were often held to a different set of expectations from that of their male counterparts. This is something that is seen all over the world, during various time periods and in different societies. Renaissance Florence, is no different in this social aspect, because women were expected to do and act a certain way, so that they could hold their distinct place in society. There are three areas that are really important to a woman’s sphere during the Renaissance time period: The first being, her family’s status in society, to her her ability to bare children, and finally her chastity leading up to and during her future marriage. These are all aspects of a woman’s scope that are portrayed in the court case of Giovanni
A family’s prestige and honor were very important during the early Italian republics. Certain classes of these societies were arranged to marry each other in hopes of building family alliances and raising a family’s reputation. This procedure that takes place during the Renaissance period was nothing more than arranged marital contract, that was designed to interlock family ties and ensure social hierarchy. It was often looked down upon to marry outside of your class, which is one reason Lusanna would have in contesting that Giovanni was indeed married to her and not to Marietta (A woman from his same social prestige). Once her husband Andrea died, she would need someone else to take care of her or else she would have to return to one of her male relative’s house, as was the custom of women during this era. This meant that aristocrats were expected to marry fellow aristocrats, merchants to merchants, artisans to artisans, and so on and so forth. This is seen very clearly throughout the court case of Giovanni and Lusanna. Giovanni della Casa came from a well to do family and one that had many aristocratic ties. On the other hand, Lusanna’s family came from an artisan background, which was lower on the totem pole than that of Giovanni’s. The fact that Lusanna had to have her brother Antonio plead her case to the pope in
Women were held to this standard, unless they were a prostitute or some kind of courtesan of sorts. The idea that Lusanna did not live up to this ideal is demonstrated a few different times throughout these proceedings. For starters, Giovanni’s procurators argue that their client met and had erotic encounters with Lusanna while she was still married to her first husband. It is alleged that Lusanna used these meeting times to seduce Giovanni into his vow that he would marry her if anything were to happen with her husband. This shows that Lusanna was having an extra marital after behind her husband’s back, which would bring terrible shame to herself and her family name. Why then would she act in this manner? Was she trying to challenge the fact that men were allowed to have concubines and mistresses, but women were not? Another aspect of this lies in the consummation of marriage. It was a woman that is supposed to endure in her chastity until she and her future husband effectuated the marriage. Clearly that Lusanna was freely having a wanton relationship with Giovanni prior to her marriage to him would throw the idea of her being an honorable woman out the
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.
Giovanni then refused to marry her in a public wedding because his social status would be greatly hurt to marry some one in the working class of Florence. This is another example of why today¹s society is so much different from how it was when they lived. Another strange thing about their society is the open humiliation that people were subjected to. It was said that Lusanna first husband was called a ³cuckold ³ to his face. People who were said to earn money in a dirty fashion often had blood or paint thrown on their steps.
Although it can be said that seeing as women had no rights during the time period, why not have them serve their husbands as a primary goal. Women usually were less educated, had restrictions on trades that they may practice and limited job opportunities. (S.V. Rosser, 2008 p23) They also were considered to be too young at the time of marriage to know what is best for them so their parents chose their suitor. In fact, one could say if the girl is too young to know what is best for he, should she marry at that age in the first place? Although work was not always strenuous for wives of wealthy suitors, they should have their own lives within the marriage like their husband and not have to constantly please them and have their own lives dictated to...
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.
...omething serious. Difalco says that “she wanted a man who did not mind to hang around the house.” Meaning that she want somebody who wants a monogamous relationship and could wanted to know more about her personality and skills rather than having sex. However, they only wanted to have fun and sex, but I think that she wanted to forget about her husband and move one.
Men saw marriage as a way to get rich; love didn’t even enter the equation. Padua is a rich area and therefore many suitors fled there in the hope of becoming wealthy. “I come to wive it wealthily in Padua,” says Petruchio. He asks outright, “Then tell me – if I get your daughter’s love, what dowry shall I have with her to wife?” (Page 37, act 2 scene 1, line 119-120) The husbands were given a dowry by the father of the daughter when they became married. Women didn’t have any say in who they chose to marry; instead the decision was given to the father. If a daughter was not married then they were looked shoddily upon within the society. In this era every woman was to be married otherwise they were frowned upon within the community. Further more without Katherina getting married, Bianca would also never marry. Within a family the eldest daughter must be married off first and in this play turned out to be a bonus. “Her father keeps from all access of suitors and will not promise her to any man until her elder sister first be wed.” This is the main an...
Women do not expect fidelity from men as Beatrice says to Don Pedro (2:1:260) ‘Marry, once before he won it of me with false dice’ she is referring to Benedick.... ... middle of paper ... ... A man is allowed to have sex as many times as he likes ‘the more the better’ in a man’s world however if a woman was to sleep around then she would be considered a ‘whore’ and would be slated for it. This shows that although women have a lot more rights in the modern world, the rules in sexuality and honour have not changed a great deal since Shakespearean times.
In Shakespeare’s “Othello”, the role of women is deeply emphasized; the significant characters of the play Othello, Iago, and Casio, each have a lady that stands behind him. These women each have commitment to remain faithful and respect their husband's needs, especially Desdemona and Emilia.
Gualtieri, a young Italian marquis, was pressured by his servants to marry. His subjects were in fear that there would not be an heir to maintain the stability of their state. Gualtieri agrees to marry, but makes it clear to his subjects that he will he will find his own wife. The marquis makes his people promise that they will not question him nor criticize his choice for a wife. “My friends, since you still persist in wanting me to take a wife; I am prepared to do it, not because I have any desires to marry, but rather in order to gratify your wishes. You will recall the promise you gave me, that no matter whom I should choose; you would rest content and honour her as your lady”, (Boccaccio 164).
The story of Lucretia begins with men boasting about their wives, trying to determine who is the best of them all. It is clear to them that Lucretia is the winner when she is found “hard at work by lamplight upon her spinning” (Livy, 100). She then moves on to be a gracious host to all of these men, again showing success in her womanly duties. Later that night one of the visitors, Sextus Tarquinis, comes into her room, and forces himself upon her, telling her that if she does not comply he will make it look like she had an affair with on of the servants (Livy, 101). She yields to him because she does not want it to seem as if she had an affair and n...
Cloud, Amanda. Gender Roles of Women in the Renaissance. n.d. Web. 7 Nov. 2009. < http://www2.cedarcrest.edu/academic/eng/lfletcher/shrew/acloud.htm >.
The struggle of women to fight for equal rights has always been a problem in society. This issue has transcended from generations and can be tracked down from many literary sources: books and articles, the conflict women went through to even be able to voice their point in in any matter, even ones that included them. William Shakespeare, as said by Scott Guffey, manages to bring “fourth [the] highly believable and realistic” (Guffey 2) judgment and belittlement of women during the Renaissance period in Othello. Shakespeare does this by establishing societies need for women to portray the image of the perfect wife and signifying the repercussion that occur when those needs are not meet. He illustrates what happens to Desdemona and Emilia’s credibility and treatment after their husband’s accuse them of cheating, an allegation that causes them to no longer hold the only thing women were valued for: their image of an impeccable wife. Although, they were both strong women by defying important men in their life, gender was represented as a source of supremacy, in Othello, and challenging those norms ultimately lead to both of these women’s demise.
Honour went hand in hand with how reputable a family was considered to be within the community. There were two types of honour; “honor” which symbolized the honour brought to an individual by their family or their birth right, and “honra” which represented ones virtue in the sense of morality and piety or their saintliness. Honour killings would occasionally be performed (most often by men) on women who took lovers behind their husband’s backs. To restore his honour, the husband would be legally allowed to kill both his wife and her lover. Women would also resort to violent tendencies if anyone threatened their families’ honour and reputation. High class woman were known to protect both their own honour and the households by filing lawsuits and beating other women they saw as treats, making women more likely than men to act out in defence. In the “Scandal at the Church” case, Mr. de Alfaro indirectly refers to his wife’s and his family’s honour multiple times as his wife was attacked in the daylight crowds after mass. With so many people present to witness his wife’s beating and Mrs. Bravo’s insulting words, Mr. de Alfaro’s family honour was tarnished as a direct result from the scandal. Even as a man of a lower class, honour is still incredibly important as other families within the community base their perceptions on how honourable and thus reputable a family is. Mrs.
The mother inherently concludes that there are only two types of women: respectable women and “sluts.” Through the entire story, the mother ofttimes implicates the daughter of being bent on becoming a “slut.” Her suspicion doesn’t appear to be aggravated by the daughter’s behavior. The daughter resembles good behavior this is shown by her first input in the story, “but I don’t sing benna on Sundays at all and never in Sunday school” (171). That is a response to her mother’s question, “is it true that you sing benna in Sunday school?” (171). Which was followed by the mother’s instruction that her daughter not sing benna in Sunday school.
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.