The Tale of Menocchio

The Cheese and the Worms: An Analysis of Mennochio’s Beliefs

The Cheese and the Worms, a Carlo Ginzburg book inscribed on the16th-century with its main focus on the views and beliefs of Mennochio about the world. Mennochio, an Italian miller, always found himself on the wrong after challenging the customs that existed in the society which according to him were not necessary. In the book, The Roman Inquisition burned him owing to the beliefs he had about religion. He was exceptional, a nonconformist since his ideas were strange nonetheless he was realistic. His nature of being outspoken led to his death but his audacity in vocalizing humanity thoughts was his definitive achievement (Carlo Ginzburg, 1980).

Mennochio’s Voice on Peasant Culture

In his voicing about the peasant culture, Mennochio argued that the common citizens of early Italy were restrained to have one approach of discerning and life. Power was controlled by the rich and the common people had a duty to follow. Owing to the peasant’s poverty-stricken circumstances and their low societal position, their education was pathetic and that give rise to illiteracy levels. Peasants of this time period were nothing like Menocchio since he was well-educated and doing well in life. Though he did not have any networks with the people of high-class, his approach of articulating things connected him to Humanist of the Renaissance. His landings from rags to riches makes his story stimulating. All he acquired in a lifetime was from his personal struggles and determination. He was a peasant, he did not good voice nevertheless somehow, and some way he found a way to be just as good as and maybe even better in some features than other great Humanists of the Renaissance. His genuine methodology to life, literature access and his distinctive mentality backed to his uniqueness. He made use of his well-informed gifts to develop to something when he was well-thought-out as nothing. (Lawton, 1993) “It was not the book as such, but the encounter between the printed page and oral culture that formed an explosive mixture in Menocchio’s head” (51). Mennochio, as presented, has a personality that cannot be compromised. His technique of faith signified the thought of peasants and the mutual effect that was between the cultures that dominated and lower class people.

Mennochio’s Battle Against Cultural Customs

Menocchio battled against cultured customs to make a demonstration of a reformation in this time. The way he was brought up assisted in understanding how a common person’s life was a tussle under others rule since he was underprivileged. His environmental background powered his beliefs on theological aspects. He turns out to be well acknowledged for the manner in which he criticized the church. He didn’t really consent the Christian religion and unquestionably hated the Catholic Church. He makes attacks on the model of Jesus and conditions that he was a man born out of the ordinary with no powers societies consider he had. All through that time era, it was ultimately acquitting yourself to death going in contradiction of the church and at that saying something as crazy as that, as this was termed as blasphemy. He did not care and alleged that every person ought to have the freedom and choice of choosing the particular religion that seemed best for themselves. He claimed that nobody was born in a religion and thus he was totally contrary to baptisms. Asserting that we are Christians only by chance, as of tradition, involved a serious disconnectedness of stern proportions. Menocchio took to sentiment all the church organized. ”I think speaking in Latin is a betrayal of the poor in lawsuits the poor do not understand what is being said and are crushed, and if they want to say four words they need a lawyer” (Kimmel, 1982). Latin, an ancient Rome language was well thought-out as a language of the wealthy and so they spit on the common people’s faces by doing so. He didn’t think it was essential to communicate in Latin since not everybody was conversant with it. He was swayed in his thinking that the church required to be gods and in doing so was exceptionally satanic. An individual’s Baptisms’ did not have a place in Menocchio. His thinking was that even though the church was definite in saying that blasphemy was evil, it wasn’t and he was doing completely nothing immoral. God blessed all of those who are born and that is why he announced baptism as a wickedness. Yet again, all in the church was addressed around cash and frustrating to make a revenue out of people’s lives. Churches generate revenues from persons in instants that they are helpless. People who want to go to heaven are going to baptize their offspring and of course, church people are going to use that to their gain.

Mennochio’s Beliefs and Unswerving Approach

Menocchio’s belief was that he was cultured to have faith in somehow tied to the church making a profit off of it and using people. He did not have faith in any of the things we are all educated as Christians or Catholics to trust in. He defied all that came to mind and continuously had a reasonable clarification as to why he thought what he thought. He was a natural born leader who was ready to change the perspective of people. Numerous individuals around that time were enquiring countless stuff in the church and he rallied around them to confirm a lot. Additionally, he found marriage within the church as corruption. He understood that marriage was a commercial and church main drive was to yield from it. He believed that God inscribed what we were invented to do and creatures amended what we believed essential to accommodate our life and twisted everything we were fictional to do. The only attention ought to be on god since God desires us to worship him and no other persons. Christ never died for humankind and the Virgin Mary was not a virgin. If we sin, we must deal with the result of, not someone else. That’s authoritative because he believed ”that is a greater rule to love one’s neighbor than to love God”. When judgment day comes he will respond to someone he cannot really see.

Mennochio’s Rebellion and Consequences

Populations were anticipated to take directives entirely from the spiritual leaders devoid of any query. This was offensive that Mennochio had present-day views in thought-provoking the quo. In articulating such sentiments, this was reflected as a cordial summons to be victimized. Though his cause was noble and had worthy objectives for the less fortunate society members, he was reflected as s rebel. Mennochio’s unswerving tactic to the society’s contemporary problems constantly put him in trouble with the ruling classes. This persistent puzzling of the status quo on subjects of religious belief was a deed that attracted a lot of devotion from the fellow peasants. Rendering to the authorities, this was a risky procedure of incitement that could make an outcome in turmoil and protests. According to Mennochio, everybody in the world has his or her calling, his being to blaspheme. His key goal was to condemn the dealings of the Catholic Church, which were an offensive practice. In the 16th century, Religious establishments were intended to be a sign of godliness and fair practice. Consequently, the religious leaders were greatly valued since they were undertaking the work of the Lord. To the inhabitants of Italy, Pope was as authoritative as the king, commanding and demanding, equal respect. This made sure that only a few people could dare the institutions discriminating does, eventually maintaining the status quo. Conferring to Mennochio, nevertheless, influential leaders like cardinals, bishops, monks, priests, and the Pope were more interested in financial gains and power. They had transformed the establishments into commercial entities to enrich themselves.

Mennochio’s Legacy and Impact

In conclusion, the death of Menocchio happened because he was different. Similar to countless people before him, the creation was not prepared for what he fought for. People do not like change and it’s a native characteristic that doesn’t seem to change over the years. Menocchio protested against national and social values to build an improvement in the sixteenth century. Observing common people’s lives of this time period in Italy helps one recognize how their everyday life was. Menocchio has contributed an era to society and is substance meaningful of for history commitments. If added persons stood up for what they believed in, respect to the lower classes would be way more as they would have a chance to prosper within the culture in a judgment-free zone.

Works Cited

Carlo Ginzburg, J. T. (1980). The cheese and the worms. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.

Kimmel, M. S. (1982). The Cheese and the Worms. Theory and Society, 555-558.

Lawton, D. (1993). Changing the subject. Island, n54, 27-30.