Colloquia Maruliana ..., Vol. 3 , 1994.
Original scientific paper
The Consistency of Marulić's World Picture
Rafo Bogišić
Abstract
The author discusses Marulić‚s position as one of the last Renaissance writers capable of expressing a consistent world picture and an unquestionable and unified vision of reality, firmly rooted in the universal Christian idea. The self-confidence of his world rests on three foundations: the medieval Croatian chakavian written word and culture, the unique, all-embracing and infallible system of biblical myth and the mythological system of classical antiquity.
Yet, it was exactly in Marulić‚s time (15th/16th C) that the reliability and stability of the world in which he was brought up and which he kept consolidating all his life -advocating its values on the national (in texts written in Croatian language), as well as international plan (writing in Latin) - went through a deep interior crisis, after having suffered several serious blows. Yet, Marulić seems amazingly unaware of the change. He continues developing the old, well-known principle, nourishing it abundantly with illustrations, “valid arguments” and high standards of education and style, in which he shows a true literary authority. Even the most alluring challenges could not shake the security and solidity of his world. The lecherous old men plotting against Susanna, David‚s grave sins, the dangerous intentions of Holofernes and the whole lot of other sins and deviations threatening humanity, which Marulić always treats in a manner appropriate to his subject-matter and discusses in great detail, are only momentary threats and contradictions of a securely rooted world: They are seen as its interior necessity, testifying, at the same time, its great power.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
9839
URI
Publication date:
22.4.1994.
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