Catalan Humanism: Bernat Metge and the Dawn of Reason

Catalan Humanism: The Shift from Medieval Thought

The Rise of Humanism

The late fourteenth century marked a significant shift from the medieval mindset. Across Europe, and particularly in the sixteenth century, a new focus on human agency emerged. This movement, known as humanism, liberated individuals from theocratic authority, placing them at the center of intellectual and artistic pursuits. Medieval dogmatism was abandoned, replaced by an environment where questioning and debate were encouraged. Reason became the primary source of knowledge, leading to a renewed interest in Greco-Latin culture.

Philosophically, humanism embraced Epicurean ideals, such as the pursuit of knowledge for pleasure, the avoidance of fear, and the questioning of the soul's immortality. Aesthetically, it blended real and fantastical elements, combining literal and metaphorical meanings. The epistolary genre and philosophical dialogue flourished.

Originating in Italy, humanism quickly spread to the Crown of Aragon. This dissemination was facilitated by the Royal Chancellery's translations of classic texts, literary and political contacts established with Italian humanists during the reigns of Peter of Aragon, John I, and Martin the Humane, and the Aragonese kingdom's connection with Naples under Alfonso the Magnanimous. The papal court of Avignon also played a role.

Bernat Metge (1340/46-1413)

Bernat Metge stands as the quintessential representative of fourteenth-century Catalan humanism. His work embodies the critical and skeptical spirit of the era. His masterpiece, Lo Somni (1399), showcases his humanistic approach.

Lo Somni: A Philosophical Dialogue

In Lo Somni, Metge employs the Ciceronian style of philosophical dialogue. Through the character of John, a doctor and secretary, Metge explores the immortality of the soul and defends himself against accusations of corruption that led to his imprisonment. He ultimately received a pardon from King Martin the Humane and was reinstated as secretary, likely due to the intervention of Queen Mary of Luna, an admirer of Lo Somni.

The book is divided into four parts:

1. A conversation between King John and the doctor concerning the immortality of the soul.
2. John answers questions about the cause of his death, his fate in purgatory, and the identities of his two accompanying figures.
3. Tiresias and Orpheus (mythological figures) appear, with Orpheus criticizing women.
4. The doctor responds to Tiresias, critiquing men.

The narrative concludes with the doctor awakening, revealing the experience as a dream.

Metge's prose is marked by precision, rigor, and clarity, incorporating elements of Latin rhetoric. He includes a glossary and frequently employs hyperbaton, placing Latin verbs at the end of sentences.