François Rabelais, "Celebration of the Worldly Life"
A Selection from Gargantua and Pantagruel
Perry Sourcebook, Vol. 1 [pp.299-301]
In his novel Gargantua and Pantagruel, the French Humanist Francois Rabelais (c. 1495-1553) criticizes the traditional, monastic worldview of the Middle Ages and advocates a more pragmatic, secular approach to life. This selection explains his ideal vision of a liberal education at a fictional monastary.
The Importance of Freedom
Like other humanists, Rabelais suggested that man is capable of making his own decisions
In his ideal monastery, there is only one codified rule: "Do what you will"
He concedes that men "covet what is denied [of them]," but argues that weact righteously if given free choices
Free Will Fosters Competition
In the monastery, freedom of choice encourages both competition and imitation
Each induvidual is compelled to borrow more successful and efficient ideas from others
This same pressure forces all the "citizens" to constantly improve their skills to remain capable members of the community
The monastery can be seen as a microcosm of the broader trends observed between Italian city-states -- intense competition brings out the best in all parties involved
Education Is Crucial
Speaking through the characters in the novel, Rabelais outlines why education is so important
He suggests that in the new, modern era, people of all walks of life (including women) will have a basic education
This implies a more pragmatic outlook, in which one takes full advantage of the immense educational opportunities available, in order to be a more capable citizen, and perhaps even to achieve social mobility.
A Classical, Yet Religious Perspective
The monastery teaches both classical languages (e.g. Greek and Latin) as well as Semitic languages (e.g. Hebrew), a balance between "Pagan" and Christian learning
The main character in the novel advises his son to master languages first as a means by which to understand both the scripture and classical philosophy
[In fact, reading scriptures in Hebrew as opposed to Latin is a more progressive suggestion than what "modern" Christians embrace today]
He also suggests that the humanist of tomorrow understand the natural order of the universe through math and science
Implications
The Spread of Humanism: humanism was now spreading into Northern Europe
New Forms of Education: education became increasingly more progressive
The Rise of Literature: Rabelais' book was, in fact, a full-length novel. He utilized satiricial and even bawdy humor for the sole purpose of entertainment, suggesting a new understanding of writing itself.
Balancing Christianity and Humanism: Rabelais, like other Northern Humanists, was more tied to his religious background than most Italian humanists; his writings suggest a balance between the two forces that dominate his worldview
