The story, Castiglione's The Courtier, discusses how the male courtier should be a principled man, a brave warrior, and an intellectual. Outside of the combat zone though, he should have excellent grace for everything he does to make everything look effortless. He states that the male courtier should be perfect in hand-to-hand combat as well as in handling weapons of war on both horse and foot. They cannot be having traits of feminine nature, nor can they be too emotional. He is not allowed to use any beauty supplies to alter his own attractiveness. The court also states that the perfect courtier should not be too tall nor too small as it serves the courtier poorly.
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The count maintains that effeminate male courtiers are nothing more than 'public harlots' who should be 'driven not merely from the courts of great lords but from the society of honest men.' This shows the typical male stereotypes in males at that time. In that time period, males were considered superior to females, therefore, they have to show their strength in every skill they have. Castiglione also argues that they have a responsibility towards their prince. Messer Frederico states that they must leave the employ of a wicked prince before he sullies his own good name. He argues that integrity should guide their actions, whether he serves a principled or wicked prince. Castiglione also states that ladies who believe themselves to be of an unattractive nature often overuse cosmetics. Castiglione asserts that the 'artifice' of so much makeup takes away from a lady's appearance of grace.
The madonna Costanza Fregosa objects to Castiglione of course. However, he states that a plain face or one with a small amount of cosmetics betrays more grace than one with a face painted on. To Castiglione, what makes a woman beautiful is being unconcerned about appearing that way. Her hair is 'artlessly unadorned' and unconfined while her cheeks often have a bit of color from blushing. Included in the book is also a long talk about love. For example, messer Bernardo says that a gentle lover often endures many trials, perils, and dangers for his lady's sake. He doesn’t wish to take her but to earn her love for him. He continues to say that a lady taken for him against her own will can’t really love a man who so possesses her. Therefore, love potions and the use of force are useless to true love. Lord Gaspar, however, disagrees. He argues that a certain amount of this is necessary to win the whole woman over. For his part, Bernardo refuses to talk with Lord Gaspar any further, saying that the latter is a most 'redoubtable warrior.'
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Castiglione’s View on the Renaissance Lady: Informative Essay.
(2023, July 20). Edubirdie. Retrieved May 14, 2024, from https://edubirdie.com/examples/castigliones-view-on-the-renaissance-lady-informative-essay/
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