Joachim Du Bellay (Mariah Zimmerman)
Joachim
Du Bellay, born in 1522, was a French poet. At age 23 Joachim began to study
law but soon left for Paris to study poetry with Pierre de Ronsard under Jean
Dorat who taught Latin and Greek literature (biography.yourdictionary.com). Alongside
Pierre de Ronsard, Du Bellay was the leader of a literary group named La
Pléiade. Du Bellay is the author of the group’s manifesto, The Defence & Illustration of the French Language, which he
published in 1549. In this work he asserted that French writers are capable of
yielding modern literature that is equal in quality and expressiveness to that
of ancient Greece and Rome. One of the main ideas he argued is that French
writers shouldn’t strictly look at Classical texts but also those of
contemporary Italy for a literary model. These ideas stemmed from his sincere
affection for his country and the belief that the country could produce
literature that rivals other nations. In 1549-50 Du Bellay published his first
sonnets which were inspired by Petrarch. Three years later (1553) Du Bellay
went on a mission to Rome and had begun to focus his writing upon religious
themes. These ideas and themes appear to have disillusioned him because he
began to focus on the vanished splendor of ancient Rome. He also focused his
attention on melancholy satire depicted in The
Regrets, which is regarded as his
finest work (britannica.com). The Regrets can be divided into three
various components. The first component pertains to Du Bellay’s unhappiness in
Rome and his longing for his home country. The second component is a satire on
Rome and the third component regards his return to the French court
(biography.yourdictionary.com). The Regrets was published after his return
to France in 1558, five years after he had gone to Rome (britannica.com).
Ultimately The Regrets shows evidence that Du Bellay was a resourceful master of
the sonnet form and conveys his ability to depict a sense of private anguish.
Du Bellay died of a stroke on New Years’ Day 1560
(biography.yourdictionary.com).
No comments:
Post a Comment