How They Thought:
Getting Into the Head Space of Those Long Gone 10:00 PM Cascade 4. G.Robin Smith
(alymere@gmail.com)
Text examples; Marjorie Kempe, Leonardo da Vinci, Machiavelli, Dante… using their texts as keys.
As an Actor, Historian, Researcher or an interested Humanist, ‘getting into the Head’ of those long gone is a necessary quest. From the earliest times, we gather important information about a people by their tools, trash, clothing remnants and art.
After the introduction of writing, we began to put together the thoughts of the scribe and their life. Every word is a clue, in addition to the paper, ink and DNA of their tears. This is our Time Machine, our Pass to the Past, to examine and relive what was lived.
The Book of Marjorie Kempe. Or “If Judy Tunuta lived in 1450.” http://www.judytenuta.com/index2.html
From The Book of Margery Kempe
www.luminarium.org/medlit/kempebk.htm
[Margery and Her Husband Reach a Settlement]
It befell upon a Friday on Midsummer Even in right hot weather, as this creature was coming from York-ward bearing a bottle with beer in her hand and her husband a cake in his bosom, he asked his wife this question: "Margery, if there came a man with a sword and would smite off my head unless that I should commune kindly with you as I have done beofre, say me truth of your conscience - for ye say ye will not lie - whether would ye suffer my head to be smit off or else suffer me to meddle with you again as I did sometime?" "Alas, sir," She said, "why move ye this matter and have we been chaste this eight weeks?" "For I will wit the truth of your heart." And the she said with great sorrow, "Forsooth, I had liefer see you be slain than we should turn again to our uncleanness." And he said again, "Ye are no good wife." Norman Lear, where are you?
What context does this have? Where does she figure into that time? To find out, we TRIANGULATE. Locate other sources or references and Triangulate. Cross reading and box reading (readings from before and after the time) give us perspective as well.
Julian of Norwich, for one, is mentioned by Marjorie Kempe, and luckily, Julian of Norwich wrote a book telling about her visions:
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/med/womenbib.html
Revelations of Divine Love Shewed to a Devout Ankress: By Name Julian of Norwich. London: Burns and Oates, 1952
Leonardo da Vinci is not known as a writer, but write he did:
http://www.sacred-texts.com/aor/dv/index.htm
482. p. 243 I.
MORAL PRECEPTS FOR THE STUDENT OF PAINTING.
A WARNING CONCERNING YOUTHS WISHING TO BE PAINTERS.
How to ascertain the dispositions for an artistic career. Many are they who have a taste and love for drawing, but no talent; and this will be discernible in boys who are not diligent and never finish their drawings with shading. The course of instruction for an artist (483-485).The youth should first learn perspective, then the proportions of objects. Then he may copy from some good master, to accustom himself to fine forms. Then from nature, to confirm by practice the rules he has learnt. Then see for a time the works of various masters. Then get the habit of putting his art into practice and work.
From this little scrap: ‘boys’ not girls. Brief sentences.
Niccolo Machiavellio
http://www.online-literature.com/machiavelli/
http://www.emachiavelli.com/history2copy.htm
Take then, your Magnificence, this little gift in the spirit in which I send it; wherein, if it be diligently read and considered by you, you will learn my extreme desire that you should attain that greatness which fortune and your other attributes promise. And if your Magnificence from the summit of your greatness will sometimes turn your eyes to these lower regions, you will see how unmeritedly I suffer a great and continued malignity of fortune.
From this scrap: Courtliness, how one appeals for redress, social order is indicated.
Dante Alighieri (1265-1321)
http://www.online-literature.com/dante/banquet/1/
Within the man there may be two defects or impediments, the one on the part of the Body, the other on the part of the Soul. On the part of the Body it is, when the parts are unfitly disposed, so that it can receive nothing as with the deaf and dumb, and their like. On the part of the Soul it is, when evil triumphs in it, so that it becomes the follower of vicious pleasures, through which it is so much deceived, that on account of them it holds everything in contempt.
From this scrap: Can we hear enough of the thought to expand his character, to build our character’s response to someone who thinks like this?
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) www.franklinpapers.org
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