Death and Rebirth

Abstract

This essay makes the argument that the sixteenth century Italian Renaissance can be interpreted as having occurred as a result of the bubonic plague, or “black death.” Since the plague recurred in waves throughout the sixteenth century, those who experienced it endured a shift in their mentality as a means of surviving—or, in some cases, they failed to do so. Surrounded by death and decay and desperately clinging to devout Christianity, eventually people began to desire a way out of the dreariness. Enter, the Renaissance. As literature such as Boccaccio's famous The Decameron inspired humanist thinking, many began to focus more on enjoying their potentially fleeting lives by engaging in new pastimes. Art, for example, became more robust both in quantity and quality. As well, socio-economic centers, the church, and the overall sixteenth century psyche displayed an observable shift throughout the rampage of the Black Death—all of which represent phenomena commonly associated with the Renaissance. This essay presents a unique entrance point for discussing the Renaissance and is thus a valuable addition to the Medieval and Renaissance Studies discourse.