What are Parini’s Odes and what do they talk about? A brief summary of Parini’s Odes, an Italian poet among the main exponents of Neoclassicism.
PARINI’S ODIES: SUMMARY
Parini ‘s Odes are 19 in total (with various “evolutions”: first there were 22, then 25, then 19) composed in a notable interval of time – between 1757 and 1795 – and divided into two groups. They are considered the most important poetic work, in these odes there are Parini’s polemic, the battle of the Enlightenment and moral arguments. They were written at different times in his life to communicate ethical and social principles, he does not want to communicate states of mind.
PARINI’S ODIES
The ode is a lyrical genre rediscovered by the authors of Arcadia , it came from Latin and Greek lyric poets, it is characterised by elevated and solemn tones.
- Rustic life : it is a praise of rural life, as opposed to the chaotic life led in the city.
- The healthiness of the air : it is a comparison between the clean air of Brianza with the unhealthy air of Milan, since in this period there were no asphalted roads, but they were mud and manure roads, in this way the air became polluted.
- Imposture : the poet attacks the hypocrisy of people who do not have the courage to be what they are, but who pretend to be what they are not.
- Education : the topic of instruction is addressed, some pedagogical values, respect for others, elevation of the soul, the sense of justice, all the principles that were meant to serve to renew man and society.
- The need : the ode takes up the themes already addressed by Beccaria , to reduce crimes it is necessary to improve the conditions of the lower classes, it is poverty that generates crimes.
- The Smallpox Inoculation : dedicated to a doctor, Gian Maria Ricetti, who had introduced the vaccine in Italy, praises science and those who dedicate themselves to promoting progress, improving human life. Criticizes every form of prejudice.
- Castration or music : in the eighteenth century there was a barbaric practice of castrating young boys so that they would have a white voice, almost a female voice, to sing in plays. Parini denounces this bad custom.
- The Fall : the poet narrates how one day, having gone out on a rainy winter’s day, he slipped and was helped by a traveller who managed to lift him up: there is a dialogue between the two.
- Danger : in this ode the poet narrates the danger of feminine charm.
- The gift : the poet tells of a noble woman who gave him some tragedies by Alfieri .
- To the Muse : he dedicates this ode to the Marquis Febo D’Adda, who had been a student of Parini. He was close to this student of his, the latter had abandoned poetry and devoted himself to his family and the poet turns to music so that it would convince his wife (the inspiration for the poet’s verses) to bring him back to the art of poetry.
- On dressing like a guillotine : this ode is characterized by anger, by indignation, it is a polemic against the French Revolution , initially favorable, but after having seen the atrocities committed. It polemicizes against the excesses and against the fashion of the period, that is to put a ribbon on the neck; it is horrified by the lack of good taste. This, according to the poet, is a sad practice that goes to contaminate the graces of noblewomen.
The last group of odes is influenced by neoclassicism .
Around 1780-1799 in Milan, there was a translation of a work written by a German, Winckelmann, History of Art . Its neoclassicist principles were disseminated in northern Italy, Parini, in the Brera Academy, finds himself confronted with neoclassical artists, shares neoclassical principles. Approaching this style, he distances himself from social themes in favor of moral themes.
The last odes are stylistically beautiful and portray the bitterness of a man who sees his dream of moral reform, founded on Enlightenment and Christian principles, fail in a bloodbath.
Neoclassicism is an artistic cultural movement from the mid-18th century, which continued until the first ten years of the 19th century. It was born and developed in parallel with the interest that was being shown for archaeological research, since in those years excavations were being carried out in Herculaneum and the ruins of this city came to light together with that of Pompeii . The rediscovery of classicism sought the ideal beauty that was to be based on elegance, balance, serenity, grace, and the avoidance of any excess.
