The Gargantuan Polity : On the Individual and the Community in the French Renaissance

Critics and scholars have long argued that the Renaissance was the period that gave rise to the modern individual. The Gargantuan Polity examines political, legal, theological, and literary texts in the late Middle Ages, to show how individuals were defined by contracts of mutual obligation, which allowed rulers to hold power due to approval of their subjects. Noting how the relationship between rulers and individuals changed with the rise of absolute monarchy, Michael Randall provides significant insight into Renaissance culture and politics by showing how individuals went from being understood in terms of their objective relations with the community to subjective beings. By studying this evolution, he challenges the argument that subjectivity enabled modern political autonomy to come into existence, and instead argues that subjectivity might have disempowered the outwardly directed and highly political individuals of the late Middle Ages. A profound and detailed study of one of the most drastic periods of change, The Gargantuan Polity will be of interest to scholars of French literature, the Renaissance, and intellectual history. The Gargantuan Polity Examines Political, Legal, Theological, And Literary Texts In The Late Middle Ages To Show How Individuals Were Defined By Contracts Of Mutual Obligation, Which Allowed Rulers To Hold Power Through The Approval Of Their Subjects. Noting How The Relationship Between Rulers And Common People Changed With The Rise Of Absolute Monarchy, Michael Randall Provides Significant Insight Into Renaissance Culture And Politics By Showing How Individuals Went From Being Understood In Terms Of Their Objective Relations With The Community To Being Subjective Entities. A Profound And Detailed Study Of One Of Europe's Most Drastic Periods Of Change, The Gargantuan Polity Will Be Of Interest To Scholars Of French Literature. The Renaissance, And Intellectual History.--jacket. Bottom-up Vs Top-down Polities : The Council And The Pope -- The Representation Of Basel In Chants Royaux Written For The Puy De Rouen -- Late-medieval Polity And Poetics : Jean Molinet's Ressource Du Petit Peuple -- The Kings Two Portraits In Claude De Seyssel And Guillaume Cretin -- Barthélemy De Chasseneuz And The Top-down Polity -- Rabelais And The Ideal Imperfect Polity -- The Death Of Consensual Politics And The Individual In Agrippa D'aubigné. Michael Randall. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [341]-361) And Index. Includes Some Text In French And Middle French.