Italia Mia Themes
Foolishness and Folly
Petrarch is doing something astonishing in Canzone 128. He's basically calling out the Italian nobility for their stupidity in hiring professional killing machines to enhance their own fortunes. He...
Warfare
The opening stanza of "Italia mia" is filled with blood and guts (the "mortal wounds" of Italy) and we're told straight-up that Mars has captured the hearts of the elite. Petrarch wants to use his...
Duty
Petrarch writes "Italia mia" to make the Italian nobility step up and act like good stewards of Italy. First order of business? Learn civic responsibility. Petrarch's irked because the ruling class...
Betrayal
In "Italia mia," Petrarch lays it down for the Italian nobility: you have a civic duty to behave responsibly and compassionately to your people and the land. But they don't. Instead, they privilege...
Patriotism
Patriotism is a complicated issue in "Italia mia," especially since Italy is not a unified country in Petrarch's day. Nevertheless, Petrarch loves him some Italy. It's clear that his loyalties lie...