In Giraldi Cinzio’s Ecatommiti, the theme of suicide, which recurs more frequently than in other novellieri of Cinquecento, greatly emphasizes the inner self, the sense of shame and guilt. By favouring a self-destructive behaviour these feelings transform the traditional character of the tragedy since they promote heroes with a melancholic nature. The narrative, conceptual and the paratextual elements of the collection, which draw inspiration from recent educational and medical developments, betray a certain acceptance of the act of killing oneself, and thus approach the subject in a way that is out of keeping with the traditional damning attitude of the Church.
Ce volume correspond aux actes du colloque "Giovan Battista Giraldi Cinthio, hombre de corte, preceptista y creador", organisé par Irene ROMERA PINTOR, (8-10 novembre 2012) à l'Université de Valence.