Renaissance Humanism In Botecelli's Painting, The Birth Of Venus

Scholars, as well as artists and the common man had rejected the harsh, religious ideals of the Middle Ages and thus, Renaissance Humanism came into being. The works that have been created by artists in the 14th and mid 17th century had reflected the change from religious to more secular ideas that became prevalent throughout this era. More specifically, Botecelli’s painting, The Birth of Venus, had echoed the growing interest in Greek and Roman culture and myths, much less the departure from the idea that all human beings are sinners. Another piece of work that had reflected the Humanistic ideas of this time was “Hamlet” by Shakespeare. This play had often emphasized the rejection of the afterlife as well as self-awareness of which were common
According to classic mythology, Venus had emerged from the sea, fully grown, aided and met by friendly spirits of wind and seasons. In this painting, Botecelli had also highlighted the purity in the birth of this god (of whom had symbolized beauty and love), which directly challenged the Christian belief that, as children of Adam and Eve who had committed the original sin, inherit that same sin by coming into this world. The revolutionary depiction of pagan gods as well as the deviation from strict religious interpretations of the Bible had characterized the Renaissance and its influence had spread from paintings to literature and
However, in the Renaissance era, there was an evolution in the perception of humanity as well as the retreat from biblical beliefs such as the afterlife and superstitions. In “Hamlet”, the idea as well as the rejection of an afterlife had been addressed as well as self-awareness. In his famous “To be, or not to be” speech, Hamlet had contemplated suicide and had thus decided against it because of the unknown he would face after death. There had been several instances where death had become an interest to Hamlet and the idea of an afterlife had become a theme in this work. The idea of death had been pondered by Hamlet in the gravedigger scene where Ophelia was to be buried and where the former jester’s skull (of which had also acted as a symbol of death) had lain. He had thought about what was in store for those who were dead and had believed that every man ends up in graves and even the greatest of us will turn into ash. However, the ending of “Hamlet” had completely rejected the idea of an afterlife in after all the carnage and the death of nearly all of the characters. After each had taken their revenge, there had been only silence, hinting that there was nothing that happens in the afterlife of which also contradicts the Christian belief of an afterlife and superstition. Hamlet had also shown self-awareness