Biography of the Giant is a novel written by French writer rabelais, which was written between 1532 and 1564. It is a political satire, a huge picture of French feudal society in the first half of16th century, and a new novel shouting for the emerging bourgeoisie to step onto the historical stage.
In the prologue of the first book, rabelais made it clear that through his works, "in our religion, in our political situation and economic life", "terrible secrets" can be revealed. Rabelais regards the struggle between the emerging bourgeoisie and the feudal aristocracy in politics, economy and religion as the primary task of Biography of the Giant, which makes the novel have a strong political color.
Rabelais exposed the French feudal society incisively and vividly from the standpoint of the emerging bourgeoisie. /kloc-In the first half of the 6th century, France experienced a series of foreign wars. Francois I competed with Charles V for the throne of "Holy Roman Empire" ambitiously because of his growing national strength, and at the same time plundered Italy many times. In his rule of more than 30 years, the longest truce was only six years. As a result, the state treasury was empty, debts were high, and excessive taxes and miscellaneous taxes were a dime a dozen, which led to changes in people's hearts and frequent riots. These are clearly reflected in the Biography of the Giant.
The first is the description of the war. Rabelais opposes a war of belligerence and plunder. He expresses his thoughts through negative and positive images. The villain Bi is an ambitious king. He tried to build a "world empire", launched a predatory war against neighboring countries and "plundered everything he passed". There are both Charles V and Francois I in the image of Bi Xiao Ke. In view of the reality of years of war, rabelais hopes to have a wise monarch.
Grangu Street written by him is such a king. Facing the enemy's invasion, he immediately sent troops to defend himself and protect his subjects. "Reason requires this, because I rely on their labor to maintain, and I rely on their sweat to feed and clothe, not only me, but also my children and my royal family." He never started a war or invaded other countries. He sent messengers to persuade Bi: "Now is not the time to gain the kingdom by conquest." Rabelais's fiasco against the invaders can also be said to be an exhortation to the militarist Francois I.
Secondly, Biography of the Giant attacked the judicial system and the tax system. At that time, with the strengthening of the judicial system, the corruption of feudal judicial organs was increasingly exposed. The real situation of feudal courts is that the proceedings are complicated, the expenses are huge, and the judges practice favoritism and malpractice. Even the king had to click on 1536, 1539 and 1540 for three consecutive times to shorten the trial period and reduce the trial cost. Rabelais ironically decided the case by rolling dice, exposing their usurpation and abuse of privilege, and described that the Sikanu people "can be rich for four months after being beaten".
The description of "the cat in fur robe" in the fifth part obviously alludes to the shady situation of justice at that time. Judges are all described as "cats in fur robes" with a big pocket hanging on their bodies and "living by bribery". Their laws are like cobwebs, catching small flies and butterflies, and not daring to provoke big cows and big flies, that is to say, they specifically harm ordinary people. "They grab everything and devour everything. They dismember, behead, kill, prohibit, destroy and destroy everything, regardless of quality. Because for them, evil is called virtue, malice is called kindness, treason is called loyalty, stealing is called gift, and robbery is their motto. " Rabelais described exorbitant taxes and levies as "financial squeezing": "Squeeze the grapes clean, not even a little juice left."
Thus, the legend of the giant reflects the scene of the people rising up against oppression.
Delianmei Monastery is the embodiment of the author's humanistic ideal. It shows the political, social and religious views of rabelais's humanism. Both men and women can enter and leave the monastery at any time. There are no complicated religious ceremonies, and there are no rules that bind people. People can drink whatever they want and leave whenever they want. The only rule of the monastery is "do what you want". This is the slogan of bourgeois anti-feudal personality liberation, which was undoubtedly of progressive significance at that time.
At the same time, rabelais's humanistic ideal also has obvious bourgeois nature. Delianmei Temple only accepts people who are "naive, elegant and educated". They pay attention to food and clothing, and never rush about for life. Everyone is content to get rich and enjoy life freely. It can be seen that bourgeois humanists reflected the wishes of some oppressed people to some extent when attacking feudal privileges, but when it comes to their positive ideals, they can only express the wishes of the bourgeoisie.
Brother John, who founded Deryamet Monastery, is a figure who embodies rabelais's humanistic ideal. He is not a celibate and dares to look at girls boldly; He doesn't go on a diet, but eats and drinks for four people; He protects the oppressed; He is not afraid of the enemy, and he is ruthless to the enemy. He lifted his robe and rolled up his sleeves in the battle, and as a result, he beat the invading enemy out of the water, while other monks were there "singing hymns and praying for resistance." He is very different from the spiritual aristocrat-monk class in the Middle Ages, and he is rabelais's ideal monk image, that is, an image that conforms to the humanist's "human feelings" standard.