The Eternal Renaissance:

How the Roots of Literature Shape Contemporary Fiction

By: Maylene Isabella Carrasco

Abstract

The Literary Renaissance, which emerged in Europe during the 16th century, was preceded by the middle ages, or the medival period, which was known for social heirarchies and strict religous beliefs. However, towards the end of the medival period, there was newfound interest in classical culture of ancient Greece and Rome, which inspired writers to focus on humanism and emphasize the individuality these classic cultures taught. This was a time where feudalism was declining, and the printing press was making books more widely available. Allowing increasing literacy rates and a growing middle class that could now afford taking part in literature and entertainment. The Renaissance literary movement had a profound impact on the original time period, influencing the way people thought of themselves in the world, that they could achieve greatness and the class they were born in did not interfer with their potential. The movement as a whole paved the way for future movements such as the Enlightment and Romanticism, largely thanks to the notable authors of the Renaissance. Three key authors contributed significantly to the Renaissance literary movement; Philip Sidney, Miguel de Cervantes, and of course, William Shakespeare. Shakespeare’s plays such as Romeo and Juliet, portrayed complex human emotions through dramatic verse. Sidneys poetry, like Astrophil and Stella, was a beautiful writing of lyrical prose and sonnet form. Cervantes’ novel, Don Quioxte, pioneered the picaresque narrative and introduced the concept of unreliable narrators. Even today, these authors’ works continue to influence writing in many ways. Many beloved book tropes such as unreliable narrators, forbidden love, or unrequited love, are still widely popular in contemporary fiction. The authors of the Renaissance are to thank for new uses of language, form, and style that still impacts writing today.

The Eternal Renaissance: How the Roots of Literature Shape Contemporary Fiction

Historical Context

Medival Times — What provoked the renaissance

The Medival era, the Middle Ages, the Dark Ages, are all ways to refer to this time in history that preceded the Renaissance. This period spanned from the fifth century, following the collapse of the Roman Empire, to around the fourteenth century. Feudalism dominated the social system, separating people by classes based on wealth and land ownership, limiting individual potential for achievements. People lived in fear that Rome would rise again, and weren’t sure how to structure society and began relying on the Catholic church. This had some advantages as it provided opportunities for community, education, and the preservation of old texts. However, its power often became corrupt and hindered creative and critical thinking. Then, the Black Death, which was responsible for the death of millions of people, started to change the structure of society. There were severe labor shortages that allowed workers to demand better pay and working conditions, starting the separation from the feudal system. The aftermath of the pandemic inspired thoughts questioning morality, faith, and the human condition. This interest in humanity and individualism was the start of the Reniassance.

The Renaissance as a Whole

Lenardo Da Vinci, Michael Angelo, Sandro Botteciello, and Donatello are all world-famous for their art throughout the Renaissance. Their works impacted the art they precede, redefining realism and human expression. The Renaissance began with a rekindling interest in ancient Greece and Rome, which influenced many pieces of art and architecture such as Sandro Botteciellos “Birth of Venus”. The era marked an age of individualism and humanism, a large shift from the Middle Ages. Philosophists such as Plato and Protagoras, inspired people to take control of their own lives, being able to achieve great things and think freely. One quote by Protagora that shaped this mindset was, “The man is the measure of all things: of the things that are, that they are, and of things that are not, that they are not”, a quote from his book Truth.

The fall of feudalism enhanced the effect of these teachings as people were less likely to be defined by their social status or land ownership. Trade and commerce expanded, leading to wealthy merchants and patrons being able to fund the arts. That is how the Renaissance became known as one of the most pivotal periods for the arts.

Renaissance Notable Authors

Philip Sidney

Philip Sidney was many things in his lifetime. Born into an influential family in England, Sidney grew up having a father that was politically involved, even having strong ties to the royal English family. In his lifetime he was a soldier, fighting alongside his father in Ireland and later went on to be the General of Horse. Then two years later he was appointed as the governor of Flushing, Netherlands.

Through all his political involment, today Philip Sidney is primarily known for his poetry. He wrote 108 romantic sonnets that were found to be written for his mistress, Lady Penelope Rich, and it became one of his most popular works, Astrophil and Stella. Throughout that sonnet sequence, Philip Sidney wrote of an unrequited love. The story of Astrophils one sided love for Stella, although fiction, is thought to be heavily autobiographical due to the fact that these sonnets were written for his mistress. Sidneys’ character, Aptrosphil, gets hopeful for his future with Stella when she reveals that, although she is married, she is not happy in her relationship. This starts an affair throughout the book that Stella eventually ends. This mention of unrequited love was one of the first in literary history.

However, we can infer that due to the nature of the Renaissance taking inspiration from classical culture that Philip Sidney may have been inspired by the Greek myth of Echo and Narcissus. In the fable, Echo, a mountain nymph cursed to only be able to repeat others words, falls in love with Narcissuss, an indifferent and vain deer hunter, despite having a husband. While both stories contain parallels, we can see how Sidney adapted the trope into a tangible romance where readers can find themselves rooting for the couple. This trope can be found in popular literature today such as; The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald, Little Women by Louisa May Scott, or Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman. All books beloved by thousands of readers globally, yet the roots of this engrossing trope began to be popularized in the Renaissance. Astrophil and Stella even inspired writers like Shakespeare during this time to write of unrequited love in Sidneys’ narrative poem style, in his work, Venus and Adonis.

Moreover, in his work The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia, a manuscript that was pieced together from his drafts, because he died before he could finish it, made pastoral romance very popular. Not necessarily a trope in itself however, rural or countryside settings for romances became very popular after his work. Additionally, due to Sidneys background, the political themes throughout the book make sense as it was likely his indirect commentary on government affairs, having a first hand perspective. The combination of political themes and a pastoral romance in, The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia, developed a beautifully complex narrative prose that reflected his time during the Elizabethan era.

His work set new standards for poetry and writing as he created new innovative ways to use the sonnet form, and fuse prose and poetry. Philip Sidneys literary works show how fiction from classical culture connects to contemporary fiction. Readers can identify the Greek and Roman inspiration, yet find similarities within fiction today as well. Although being a writer may not have been the legacy Sidney thought he would leave behind, his work in the renaissance bridged the gap from ancient to contemporary literature.

Miguel de Cervantes

Unlike other authors of his time, Miguel de Cervantes never attended a university. His literary skills were limited to his general education and being an avid reader. When he was older he left to Italy working as a chamberlain in Rome and eventually enlisting as a Spanish soldier. In a fierce battle, Miguel fought against Turks for the protection of Cyprus and left the battle with three gun-shot wounds. Two to the chest, and one to his hand that made it no longer functionable for the rest of his life. His experiences as a soldier in Italy are thought to have been a major influence in his renowned book, Don Quixote.

Cervantes’ life was full of adventure, from living across Europe as a soldier to being captured by pirates and put for ransom. This time of his life reflects the adventurous spirit of Alonso Quiote, an older Spaniard who wants to live the adventurous life he reads of chivarlous knights. The novel is a satire work that parodies the trope of a knight in shining armor saving a damsel in distress that was popularized in the medival era.

Cervantes’ use of comedic relief as the protagonist starts to build his own adventure, even renaming himself Don Quixote and recruiting a squire, Sancho Panzo, to go find an island to rule over, creates a humorous but complex narrative. The readers cannot trust what Don Quixote believes because he lives in his own world, making the novel one of the earliest uses of the unreliable narrator trope. Throughout the book they battle windmills he thinks to be giants and sheep that he thinks is an enemy army. Quixotes delusions are often smashed by reality, and although the instances are very humurous for readers it is also an example of idealism. It exemplifies how a strong belief can shape your perception of reality. This combination of satire humour and illusive perspective was new to readers during the renaissance and likely why the novel became so popular.

The rise of the printing press allowed for Cervantes’ novel to be published in multiple different languages to be enjoyed across multiple countries. We can even see the effect of his work in our time. He popularized the unreliable narrator and hero-wannabe trope and works such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain or The Catcher in the Ryer by J.D. Salinger, which are pieces of literature that are iconic classics, known by many people today.

Miguel de Cervantes made many influential pieces in his lifetime. From novels to plays and even poetry, he blended comedy, drama, and realism, to make interesting perspectives and complex narratives that not only captivated readers but also gave social commentary on social hierarchies. His writing has forever changed literary history as he is held responsible for what is considered the first modern novel, with his contrasting use of reality and illusion.

William Shakespeare

The icon of the Renaissance and the Elizabethan era is famously known to be Shakespeare. With thirty-nine plays, a hundred and fifty-four sonnets, two narrative poems, and several other works of poetry and writing, Shakespeare is responsible for the backbone of the Renaissance and has completely set the stage for contemporary fiction.

Not only did Shakespeare add thousands of words and phrases to the English language, but he also created unforgettable stories through his writing that blended blank verse and prose. Mostly known for his plays, Shakespeare took his writing to the stage. Where even people who were lower class could enjoy the luxuries of theatrical entertainment. At the Shakespeare Globe in London, there are levels to seating and although the lower class men would be in a pit standing, his work was made accessible to all.

Additionally, his famous use of iambic pentameter through his works were intentional. It helped to mirror everyday conversation but also to add a rhythm to the words to make it easier for actors to remember. Oftentimes actors did not have access to full scripts, possibly only pieces or simply relying on verbal repetition to memorize their lines. His works were famous throughout his lifetime, something many authors don’t experience. His plays drew large crowds of people, even royalty came to watch his plays.

Today Shakespeare is not near forgotten. However, the drastic impact of his work is likely underestimated. He innovated the majority of the extremely popular literary tropes. Many people today will never read a sentence of Shakespeare as the vernacular of his time is hard for readers now to easily understand. But the ideas from his works have stuck around even a hundred of years after his death.

Romeo and Juliet, his most popular work, is a play featuring two star crossed lovers who are forbidden to be together. This work has been performed in theaters globally and is even a stereotypical choice for high school productions. Romeo and Juliet is the face of theater and is likely a play most people can name even if they have never read any Shakespeare works. The trope of forbidden love has been re-written and transformed in many pieces of literature today, but its roots still go back to Shakespeare. For instance, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott, and even Twilight by Stephenie Meyer uses the forbbiden lovers trope.

There are endless examples of how many book tropes Shakespeare created that still influence literature today. In Midsummer Night’s Dream, he wrote of a hidden world and love triangles which has influenced books like, Throne of Glass by Sarah J Mass or Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger. His tragedy Coriolanus heavily inspired The Hunger Games by Suzane Collins, as far as characters sharing the same names and themes of political commentary. His tragic play Hamlet is known for being a direct inspiration for the popular Disney movie, The Lion King. Even the 1999 romcom 10 Things I Hate About You is based off of Shakespeare’s, Taming of the Shrew. His influence on literature was and is profoundly colossal. But what made him different from other writers of his time?

Shakespeare stood out from other writers because his stories were real and new. His characters are known for being authentic portrayals of the people of his time. For example, in a time where women were portrayed as either a wife, daughter, mistress, or prostitute, he gave them depth. His female characters were often reasonable, independent, and if malicious he gave a background as to why. Women in his books, although not as progressive as today, were not only two-dimensional throw away characters to advance the male protagonists story line. His stories incorporated all types of perspectives and experiences making them far more relatable to the majority. From Royalty to mundane life, everyone was reflected in Shakespeare’s stories.

Even more, his plots were something audiences and readers had never seen before. Though he was inspired by preceding authors such as Philip Sidney as well as Greek and Roman mythology, his work took those beloved plots and made it his own. None of his works were predictable, with a new twist at every corner he could completely captivate an audience. The language was clever and humorous, but still stayed true to the characters’ authentic humanity. His insight of people and society was ahead of his time and that is what made him a legend. The influence of Shakespeare’s work is around today and will continue to be around for years to come as writers become their own innovators of literature and continue to grow on the roots he placed.

Conclusion

We now know how the Renaissance and its preeminent authors affected their past, our present, and everything in between. But how will the Renaissance shape our future? Some think that the dystopian genre will take lead in the next coming years. With concerns about climate changes there is talk of stories of the future that may mirror the environmental consequences we fear to come. Additionally, the current world seems to constantly be in a state of political tension, but that isn’t necessarily news, considering there hasn’t been longterm peace in recorded history. But what we do know is that society today parallels the Renaissance in many ways.

The expansion of the internet and artificial intelligence mirrors the revolutionaization of the printing press, making communication larger and faster than ever before. Both developments have and will lead to an increase in education as it becomes more accessible for people of all classes. Social change is also precedent in both times, with the humanist movement throughout the Renaissance and social media in ours. Both give people the power of a voice, making inspiring change attainable for any person.

The Renaissance’s main emphasis was on intellectual curiosity, innovation, and individual potential, paving the way for the icons of its time. As we navigate our own era of development and technological advancement we don’t know what lies ahead, but we can strive to produce more art and literature that rivals the masterpieces of the past, while still honoring the roots that have brought us this far.

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