Characteristics of a Universal Person

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Characteristics of a Universal Person Janeth Bonales-Joseph Strayer University HUM 111: The Humanities: Culture, Continuity, and Change December 8, 2012 The book written by Baldassare Castiglione, titled The Book of the Courtier, is considered to be one of the most important books ever written. It was written sometime in-between 1513 and 1518, taking place in the spring of 1507. The dialogue in the book is the conversations and viewpoints of speakers in the Urbino court of Guidobaldo da Montefeltro, which compete with each other to successfully describe the perfect courtier. The book was published in 1528, and translated in five different languages, and reprinted in 57 editions by the early 1600’s (Sayre, 2011). In the first two volumes of this book, the author depicts what he believed to be the intellectual and physical qualities of l’uomo universal (universal person) should possess. In his opinion, the primary mission of the courtier is to bear arms and be a skillful soldier, who masters martial arts, possesses courage and loyalty. In addition, the universal individual is someone who is refined; meaning that he is multilingual, which in his view it is necessary for negotiations; knows art and music, maintains a clean and groomed appearance, but keeps his looks masculine. He must also be a great dancer, and capable of completing the most difficult task, effortlessly. The credibility and reputation of the l’uomo universal must stay intact, and he is considered to be and equal by a prince. If he is to ask for a favor, he must not be denied, because being denied is considered to take away from his perfect being. Baldassare believes that a courtier is born almost celestial; a being who is blessed by nature and is bestowed grace and charisma that God himself has gifted to the universal being. In his first book, he states that the existence of foolish and
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