Petrarch's Opinion

In my European Studies class we have been talking about the effects of poetry/love in the development of society. Mostly western, but also just human.

We read an article in class called "The Erotic Phenomenon" written by Jean-Luc Marion, and it was all about how unspoken but essentially important Love is to us, "As far as telling it, thinking about it, or celebrating it: silence in the ranks. A silence saturated with pain, which pierced through the political, economic, and medical chitchat that smothers it in an attempt to reassure us" (p. 3)

Petrarch's love Laura

We've also read a lot of poetry by Francesco Petrarca, more commonly known to us as Petrarch. He was conflicted in his love for a woman, because it went against St. Augustine's teachings to love God first and foremost. But Petrarch in the end didn't really care. He loved this woman and basically did not care that he was going against God, because it was such a powerful feeling.

There is a strong human necessity for love. There are incredibly powerful feelings that associate with being in love, we're both fascinated and terrified by.

Shakespeare often adds this element to his plays, because it's such a driving force of human life. In "The Tempest" The love between Miranda and Ferdinand is entertaining in a way that the other story cannot be. We, as audience members are so captivated with the sense of Love. 

Shakespeare knew what he was doing.

Jean-Luc Marion, Selections from Marion, The Erotic Phenomenon (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2008).