Feministiska författare i renässansens Venedig

Abstract

Tlie steady economic growth and development of the Republic of Venice over many centuries bad made it possible to become one of the greatest economic powers in Europé by the fifteenth century. This was very much due to its strategically situated harbour by which it became a centre of vital importance for foreign trade between the Orient and Europé, and between ihe Mediterranean countries and Western Europé. Customs and practices stemming from many different cultures thrived in this metropolis by the crossroads, which was held in great esteem because of the freedom, openmindedness and tolerance it offered the individual with regard to intellectual, religions and even political standpoints. Compared to other Italian city-republics, on the other hand, Venice did in fact show a great degree of political and social stability. However, it was the successful juxtaposition of many apparently contradictory elements in the social foundation of Venetian society that can explain the logic of stability. In the early sixteenlh century, Venice was the world's most important centre of book printing. The great humanist Aldus Manutius published many classical works both in original and in Italian, and also literature of high quality written by women. Many other publishers soon followed his example, and printed works by women writers. In 1600, the major feminist works of the poet Moderata Fonle and I.ucrezia Marinella, author of epics and polemics, were published in Venice. Somc decades låter came a number of well-articulated feminist writings by the nun Arcangela Tarabotti. The common denominator of these three authors is a clear and very deliberate feminist approach. They focused on the oppression of women within the family and in society at large, and demanded rights for women to study and get an education. They themselves had not had any possibilities to go to school. Yet, today's literary historians claim that all three of them were well-read and highly cultivated personalities in 16th century Italian literature. Many latter-day feminists see these three Venetian writers as very influential in the history of the struggle for women's rights.