This essay focuses on analyse how the liberal values and the ancient regime come into conflict in “the Leopard” written by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa. This work is based on the XIX century, in a cultural and historical background really important for Italy, the Italian unification. I am going to analyse the comparisons that the author try to do using the characters for representing the symbolism of the liberalism and the Ancient Regime. The book is about the decadence of a world, the Sicilian aristocracy, represented with character Fabrizio Salina, and the beginning of a new one, the advancement of the bourgeoisie represented with character of Calogero. Fabrizio is the representation of the ancient regime and Calogero is the representation …show more content…
The Italian unification can be consider as the last wave of that revolution. The liberalism can be defined as a movement that exalts and defend the values of each person and their rights against the state interventions and public authorities. The illustration spread the liberal ideas which later formed the ideological basis to the revolutions in America and France. These ideas were really important for the revolutionary waves of the early XIX century. Against the absolutism of the monarchies of the Ancient Regime, the liberalism claims that the sovereignty resides in the “nation”. This is composed by the freedom of the citizens that decide to be guided by several laws created by themselves. Facing the sovereigns who concentrate all the power in their hand, this power should be shares between different levels. In this context raise a new movement called “the despotism”, one of the main impeller was Montesquieu. He defends a new political system formed by three powers: legislative, responsible for making laws, which resides in the parliament; executive, responsible for enforce the laws, which resides in the government; and the judiciary, who has to mediate in the conflicts among the citizens, which resides in the courts and the judges. To guarantee the respect for the rights and freedoms, the states have to acquire a constitution, the supreme law or “law of laws” to limit the power of the governors. From a social point of view, the ancient regime consecrated the estamental inequality and attributed to minions a different role. Conversely the liberalism considers the equality if all the citizens under eyes of the law. It was the bourgeoisie who gave encouragement to the liberal ideas. First, peacefully, through the despotism. Later, imposing them by force along the successive revolutionary waves that shook Europe from the end
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.
“I’ll be out of here and away from all you knaves for one time anyway, as not a month will pass before you’ll see whether I’m nobody or a somebody.” The story of Bianco Alfani reflected the nature of 14th century Florentine society where, as Alfani remarked, the election to public office could make or destroy a person. In late 14th century and early 15th century Florence, decreased population and expanding commerce provided a favorable environment for ambitious individuals. The real life examples of Buonaccorso Pitti and Gregorio Dati demonstrated the positive role of ambition in Florence. Pitti, a nobleman had an extremely successful career, partaking in military campaigns, holding public office in Florence and being an ambassador to foreign courts. Gregorio Dati, the grandson of purse venders, engaged in commerce, rising in social standing which culminated with his election to public office. Holding office was a definitive sign of success and recognition in Florence. In contrast was the tale Bianco Alfani, a deemed man unworthy of office. As told by Piero Veneziano, Alfani was the chief jailor in Florence who was duped into believing he had been named captain of the town of Norcia. Alfani publicly made a fool of himself, spending all his money and creating a great fanfare over his supposed appointment. Comparing the lives of Pitti and Dati to the story of Bianco Alfani illustrates how economic and social change in 14th century Florence produced a culture centered on reputation and commerce. For men like Pitti and Dati, who flourished within the constraints of Florentine society, their reward was election to office, a public mark of acceptance and social standing. Those who were ambitious but failed to abide by the values o...
Liberalism is an ideology which advocates equality of opportunity for all within the framework of a system of laws. It includes a belief in government as an institution whose primary function is to define and enforce the laws. Furthermore, a Constitution, must be developed not solely by one ruler but by representatives of the elite groups. Therefore, liberalism invariably involves a belief in the need for legislative bodies which represent the influential groups. The Constitution then defines ...
Ginsborg P (1990). ‘A History of Contemporary Italy: Society and Politics: 1943-1980’ Published by Penguin; Reprint edition (27 Sep 1990).
Ideally, all through Occidental account, lawless types of administration, for instance totalitarianism, have been deemed as tainted by description. Therefore, in case the government essence is described as justice, and in case it is appreciated that regulations are the calming energies in the public matters of men (as certainly it at all times has been from the time of Plato called upon Zeus, the boundaries god), at that moment, the trouble of the body politic movement along with the acts of its residents occurs (Arendt 366-7). Actually, this dehumanizes them to some degree. This is for the fact that as a consequence of constitutional government ‘Lawfulness’ remains a unconstructive decisive factor in to the extent that it sets the boundaries to other than not capable of explaining the human’s actions’ intention force: the enormity, except as well the confound of rules in sovereign communities is that they merely notify what one is not supposed to, other than by no means what one is supposed to do (Arendt 367). For that reason, Arendt puts downs an immense store by Montesquieu breakthrough of the code of act ruling the deeds of both administration and the individuals under it: in a democracy-virtue, in monarchy-honor, and in totalitarian government-fear (Arendt
Multiple historians have touched on the change in government during Fascist Italy’s reign in World War II. In Italian Fascism: Its Origins and Development, Alexander De Grand clarifies the many promises Benito Mussolini fabricated for the Italian people in order to get them to join his cause such as the improvement on poverty with the rise of a new Roman Empire. De Grand also gives an opposite view, with some citizens seeing Fascism as a “model of efficiency.” In Melton S. Davis’ Who Defends Rome?, t...
The American Revolutionary system served as a model, exemplifying the potential for great change and consolidation. The United States Constitution also provided a template for the French National Assembly. Montesquieu’s proposal of the separation of powers, as well as democratic conventions with representatives of the French people provided protection for the people against their government, securing “the greatest freedom and security for a state” (Duiker and Spielvogel 463). According to Article XV, people possessed the right to hold government officials accountable for their actions, developing a moral incentive as well as a foundational right for a more democratic society (National Assembly). France’s preparation for their independence showed a strong desire for equality and representation that mirrored that of the United
A rediscover of their history and recognition of early Greek philosophers changed the way that the influential families and Princes, in Italy, considered themselves. Their way of thinking of the Devine and need to promote one’s own aspirations through sponsorship of the arts, as well as, civic duty became not only fashionable but important to progress in the city states. Although Donatello’s David and Botticelli’s Primavera are master pieces in their own right, their influence on future generations of artists cannot be ignored. The spark that ignited the fire which we call the Renaissance was a transformation of societies thinking and values to a Humanistic approach to one duties to society and the church. These two works are a reflection of the changing attitudes which would eventually change all of
Society suffered for centuries from tyranny of the king, who took power over nations and ruled over all; the people, and the government itself. However, throughout several years of suffering through this tyranny and monarchy, a solution to this issue was created in the late 1700’s by the Enlightenment thinker Baron de Montesquieu. The term ‘trias politica’, also known as the separation of powers, greatly impacted its time, and remains to be just as important, if not more, today. Montesquieu created this idea of separation of powers after studying many years of successful government systems and finally came to the conclusion that government flourished when separated into varied branches. This sprouted the idea of the Separation of Powers, in
The Italian Unification was a big impact on Nationalism, which was led by Benso di Cavour, which supplied most of the ideology for the movement. Benso di Cavour was also the Prince of Piedmont-Sardinia and severed as King Victor Emmanuel II. Cavour built the strength of Piedmont-Sardinia by making a strong army, an environment that was healthy, and political freedom. Cavour was all for freedom of speech, gaining Napoleon III support by promising him Sa...
"The manner in which Mussolini and the Fascist Party gained possession of the government was regarded in most foreign circles as an illegal act of violence." (3) As the nation of Italy began to suffer great debts, Mussolini had been summoned by the King to form a government to aid in the economic needs. This marked the birth of the Fascist Party in Italy. In the beginning of his rise to the top, Mussolini was popular amongst his people. His popularity was high, and people began to trust in his judgment and ideas. (4) He was, in essence, saving the people from the turmoil that had ensued the nat...
On August 26, 1789, the assembly issued the “Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen.” Through judicial matters, this document was written in order to secure due process and to create self-government among the French citizens. This document offered to the world and especially to the French citizens a summary of the morals and values of the Revolution, while in turn justifying the destruction of a government; especially in this case the French government, based upon autocracy of the ruler and advantage. The formation of a new government based upon the indisputable rights of the individuals of France through liberty and political uniformity.
This paper discusses what type of government uses this kind of organization, when the idea of the three branches was introduced to our country, Montesquieu and his
Liberalism-derived from the Latin word ‘liber’ which means “free and not enslaved”- is seen as the dominant ideology of the western civilisation. During the European history before the modern society, it was characterised by absolutism and feudalism. That time was also called ‘the age of absolutism’.... ... middle of paper ... ...
At the start of his pontificate Pius IX started to implement certain aspects of liberalism into the Catholic Church, creating a parliamentary system wherein laymen and clergy could assist in governing the Papal States. However, as Europe became enthralled in violent revolution in 1848, which saw Pius IX exercise his veto against the Papal State government’s decision to declare war on Catholic Austria (pg 306). The events of the Italian Unification that shaped Pius IX’s Syllabus of Errors was Cavour’s liberals abolish Catholic orders and strip the Catholic Church’s control on education (pg 306). Having witnessed his power stripped by the liberals, Pope Pius IX’s rejection of liberalism in the Syllabus of Errors comes from his own experiences.