Girl Talk

At some point in every girls life, they have probably sat around and talked with their girlfriends about the qualities that they want their future partner to have. They might have even gone as far as to write it down somewhere, almost like a checklist when they meet someone. As it turns out, this is not a new concept. Noblemen in the 1500s would sit around, giggle, paint each other's nails, and talk about the qualities that they would like their Courtier to have. Who knew?

But seriously, they really did do this. The Courtier by Baldassare Castiglione is a conversation between several noblemen about the qualities that their Courtier should have. They wanted the perfect leader, so they made sure that they were prepared with their checklist. Sometimes they disagreed, but essentially they came up with: military leader; impeccable character; master of: the arts, humanities, and sports. Oh, and too, he needed to be attractive: “I would have the Courtier favoured in this regard also, and endowed by nature not only with talent and beauty of person and feature, but with a certain grace and (as we say) air that shall make him at first sight pleasing and agreeable to all who see him” (75).

Sounds easy, right? Did I forget to mention that master of the arts not only means that he needs to be educated in the arts, but also be able to read music, play an instrument, draw, and paint well? The same basis goes for the humanities and sports. Okay, maybe it doesn't sound quite so easy anymore. It actually sounds like they want the Courtier to be perfect in every way, shape, and form. Not only perfect in the sense that we use today, but Plato's perfect form (which is unattainable on this earth, according to him). It makes me wonder if this list is just something they would like to aim for or if they actually expected to find a person that fit every criteria.

This was very “Renaissance” of them though, the central concepts can definitely be found in this piece. Humanism is evident: “I would have him...conversant not only with the Latin language but with the Greek, for the sake of the many different things that have been admirably written therin. Let him be well versed in the poets, and not less in the orators and historians” (76). Clearly there is an celebration of the individual because they expect the Courtier to be able to do many things and do them well. Orientation is clearly on this world and they expect the Courtier to have impeccable character for the sake of humanity and not for a reward in the afterlife. Lastly, these guys knew they were living in a ground breaking time and they needed a very special leader to guide them into increased strength.

However, I can't help but think that they were being a bit too picky. I completely understand the desire for a perfect man, don't we all? Perhaps though they should have focused their interests on the qualities that they needed the most? Sure, it would be amazing to find a perfect leader with all of these qualities, but why not just zero in on the qualities that are most importance for improving their country and protecting it? While they definitely should not settle, if they try to wait on someone who meets every criteria, they are going to turn away some great leaders and essentially never end up with a Courtier.