On Romanticism

In 1823 Manzoni sent a letter on the theme of Romanticism to the Marquis Cesare Taparelli d’Azeglio (father of Massimo d’Azeglio, a novelist and Manzoni’s son-in-law), who had expressed doubts on the new literary school. His letter recalls the Romantic polemic, although the dispute had already been settled some years earlier. Manzoni, in fact, refers to that polemic as a thing of the past and focuses on outlining an idea and definition of the “Romantic system” in the light of his own literary and religious ideology. He states that he fully agrees with the romantics’ criticisms of the use (now out-dated and ridiculous) of mythology in literature and the unquestioning obedience to the principle of imitating the classics (and claims that Mars, Venus and the other mythological figures from the classics would end up like Commedia dell’Arte figures such as Harlequin and Pantalone). In addition to the romantics’ criticisms of the classicists he states his own interpretation as a Christian writer, claiming that mythology is a form of idolatry, a product of paganism. The principal merit of the romantics is that they initiated a modern kind of literature that recognizes reality as its object, interest as its means, and usefulness as its purpose. The new literary school’s attention to truth, reason and the morality of the individual and society point to its inherently Christian nature. Manzoni even broadens the perspective to include the modern discipline of political economy. Whereas in the eighteenth century this discipline had proposed values that ran counter to Christianity, in the nineteenth century the earlier opinions were found to be false and, with regard to issues such as luxury or prosperity based on the ruin of other people, doctrines were established that conformed to the precepts of the Gospels. Manzoni’s letter to D’Azeglio is an indication of the ethical and aesthetic views underlying the novel and the Morale Cattolica, rather than a “militant” contribution to the literary debate (for which, see his Lettre to Chauvet).