Summary:
Two of Francesco Petrarch's works, Secretum, or "My Secret," and De Vita Solitaria, or "Solitary Life," share the common theme of humanism.
Humanism is associated with the rediscovery of classical Roman and Grecian literature, art, and the civilization. The works Secretum, My Secret, and De Vita Solitaria, Solitary Life, are two of Francesco Petrarch's works that have a common theme of humanism throughout them. Secretum, My Secret, is a collection of three imaginary conversations between Petrarch and St. Augustine that talk about the presence of Lady Truth. The book is a secret one because it is ."..intended for private meditation..." He kept it to himself for the remainder of his days. The book shows his depression and inner crisis, which is resolved by Augustine's counseling and the reminiscence of his readings Virgil, Ovid, and Augustine's Confessions. Petrarch also gives himself a self-evaluation by examining his faith with Augustine.
"Augustine tells Petrarch that he is ignoring his morality and his fate in the after-life by not devoting himself fully to God." The dialogue also questions Petrarch's lack of free will and his need for temporary things, such as Laura, the woman that he writes a lot of his love poems about. Petrarch responds to this criticism by saying that he can overcome it and his depression. To many people the work Secretum is seen an ."..attempt to reconcile his humanism and admiration of the classical world with his Christian faith." The quotes "There is no reason to look to myself for hope; God is my hope" and ."..primitive and humble animals whose work you cannot imitate no matter how you try," are two quotes found in Secretum, that define the spirit of the Renaissance because of his strong belief and faith in God. Petrarch's other humanistic work, De Vita Solitaria, is a redundant book in which Petrarch frequently gets off subject with his argument. The solitude Petrarch maintains is not for the worship of God or the elimination of distractions like a monk. In this work he also compares present day Rome with Ancient Rome. The quotes ."..if Julius Caesar should comeback today from the lower regions, bringing with him his further spirit and power and if, living in Rome, that is, his own country, he should acknowledge the name of Christ...", and "If Caesar Augustus, if both the Scipios, if the great Pompey, or a thousand other should come to life again... initiated in the holy rites of the Christian faith, would they suffer...", are three quotes from De Vita Solitaria that describe humanism and Petrarch's philosophy.
This is the complete article, containing 405 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page).
