Why I am glad I don't live in medieval Italy

[radegund]

I'm editing papers for a Festschrift that my mother is producing this summer. From a paper by John Barnes (UCD): Dante talks about how 'the human soul at first considers goods of little value to be of great value, but by experience or instruction sets its heart on more valuable things':

So we see small children desiring above all else an apple; then, when they are somewhat older, desiring a little bird; then, still later, desiring fine clothes; then a horse; then a woman; then riches in small measure; then riches in large measure; then even more riches.
(Dante, Convivio, IV. 12. 16)

Well. Nice to know where I stand in the hierarchy of possessions, all the same. Feck off, Mr Alighieri.

In the West, we're distanced in time from such odious assumptions, of course, but also in space. I'm thinking of something my sister told me recently, about meeting delegates from the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, who spoke about how hard it is to raise the question of women's rights in communities where wives must crawl on hands and knees to serve their husbands' food.

More to do.

Comments

[mollydot.livejournal.com]

Wtf? The hands & knees thing is just beyond anything I thought would happen anywhere at any time (except for maybe royalty). I'm hoping that it's that they all sit on the floor & she goes on hands & knees to reach or something.

Dante is not so surprising. Should be, perhaps, but isn't.