Baldassare Castiglione's the Courtier

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Houston Curtis AP European History Essay from Baldassare Castiglione’s work The Book of the Courtier Baldassare Castiglione wrote a book called The Book of the Courtier. This book details the skills and mannerisms required by elite Renaissance men and women. These skills are very specific to each gender, with very few similarities. These similarities are being knowledgeable on common subjects, and being pleasant to be around. These two qualities are the basis of all the qualities that branch off from it. Therefore without these two key qualities the elite Renaissance man or women is not as elite as they believe themselves to be. For an elite man he is supposed to have many qualities such as skill with arms, and to exercise this skill with vigor. He must show be skilled with arms so he can be respected and feared on the field of battle where he is tested. And if he shows any cowardice he will be stained and the cowardice will forever follow him. And he will always remain in a cloud of disgrace and ignominy. He must also be known to other men as bold, and energetic. Therefore he will not be perceived as weak or incapable thus commanding respect from those around him. He must also be faithful to his lord or whomever else he serves for without faithfulness he cannot be trusted, and therefore will not be wanted or needed. The repute of these qualities is earned not given. They are earned by exercising them every time they are merited. Another quality of an elite man is to praise himself. If he is able to exceed in a certain skill a modest amount of self praise is merited. For if a man who thinks of himself as worth something and his deeds go unnoticed it is his duty to make others aware of his works, for otherwise he will never be noticed or praised by others. If a man who is of no merit praises himself for actions that are not spectacular, and he does this often her
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