Writer Francois Rabelais: Biography and Creativity

Francois Rabelais (years of life - 1494-1553) is a well-known humanist writer from France. He received world fame through the novel "Gargantua and Pantagruel." This book is an encyclopedic monument of the Renaissance in France. Rejecting the asceticism of the Middle Ages, prejudices and hypocrisy, Rabelais in the grotesque images of characters, inspired by folklore, reveals the humanistic ideals characteristic of his time.

Career of the priest

Rabelais was born in Touraine in 1494. His father was a well-to-do landowner. About 1510, Francois became a novice in the monastery. He made vows in 1521. In 1524, Greek books were confiscated from Rabelais. The fact is that orthodox theologians during the period of the spread of Protestantism were suspicious of the Greek language, considered heretical. He gave the opportunity to interpret the New Testament in his own way. François had to go over to the Benedictines, more tolerant in this respect. However, in 1530 he decided to fold and go to Montpellier to study medicine. Here in 1532 Rabelais published the works of Galen and Hippocrates, the famous healers. Also in Montpellier, he had two children from the widow. They were legalized in 1540 by the edict of Pope Paul IV.

Medical activity

Rabelais was allowed to be a secular priest in 1536. He began medical practice. François became a doctor of medicine in 1537 and lectured on this science at the University of Montpellier. In addition, he was a personal physician under Cardinal J. du Belle. Rabelais twice accompanied the cardinal to Rome. François all his life was patronized by influential politicians (M. Navarre, G. du Belle), as well as high-ranking clergymen from the liberals. This saved Rabelais from the many troubles that the publication of his novel could bring.

The novel "Gargantua and Pantagruel"

Rabelais found his true calling in 1532. After acquainting himself with the "folk book about Gargantua," François published in imitation of her "sequel" about the King of Dipsods Pantagruel. In the long title of the work of François the name of the master Alcocribas, who allegedly wrote this book, was listed. Alcocribas Nazier is an anagram composed of the letters of the name and the name of Rabelais himself. This book was condemned by the Sorbonne for obscenity, but the public accepted it with delight. The story of the giants was pleasant to many.

In 1534, the humanist Francois Rabelais created yet another book with an equally long title, narrating about the life of Gargantua. This work by logic should follow the first, as Gargantua is the father of Pantagruel. In 1546 another, third book appeared. It was signed not by a pseudonym, but by his own name Francois Rabelais. The Sorbonne also condemned this work for heresy. For some time, Francois Rabelais had to hide from persecution.

His biography was marked by the publication in 1548 of the fourth book, not yet completed. The full version appeared in 1552. This time, the Sorbonne's judgment did not stop there. The book was banned by the parliament. Nevertheless, history managed to be hushed up by the influential friends of Francois. The last, the fifth book was published in 1564, after the author's death. Most researchers dispute the view that it should be included in the work of Francois Rabelais. Most likely, according to his records, the story line was completed by one of his students.

Encyclopedia of laughter

Roman Francois is a real encyclopedia of laughter. It contains all kinds of comic. It is not easy for us to appreciate the subtle irony of the erudite author of the 16th century, since the object of ridicule has long ceased to exist. However, the audience of François Rabelais, of course, was very pleased with the story about the library of St. Victor, where the author parodied (and often obscene) played many names of treatises of the Middle Ages: "Gulf of Law", "The Rescue Rod", "On Excellent Characteristics of Taverns" and Etc. The researchers note that medieval forms of comicism are primarily associated with folk humor culture. At the same time, there are also such forms of the work that can be considered "absolute", capable of causing laughter at any time. These include, in particular, everything relating to human physiology. It remains unchanged at any time. However, in the course of history, the attitude towards physiological functions changes. In particular, in the tradition of folk laughter culture, "images of the material and physical bottom" were depicted in a special way (this definition was given by the Russian researcher M. M. Bakhtin). Creativity Francois Rabelais in many ways followed this tradition, which can be called ambivalent. That is, these images caused laughter, able to "bury and revive" at the same time. However, in modern times they continued to exist in the sphere of low comic. Many jokes of Panurge still remain ridiculous, but often they can not be retold or even more or less accurately translated with the use of words, fearlessly used by Rabelais.

The last years of Rabelais' life

The last years of Francois Rabelais' life are covered in mystery. We do not know anything certain about his death, other than the epitaphs of such poets as Pierre de Ronsard and Jacques Tayuro. The first of these, by the way, sounds rather strange and in tone is by no means complimentary. Both these epitaphs were created in 1554. Researchers believe that in 1553 Francois Rabelais died. His biography does not give reliable information even about where this writer was buried. It is believed that his remains are buried in Paris, in the cemetery of St. Paul's Cathedral.