Giant's Tale (Illustrated Classic Collection by Durey)

Author: (French) Rabelais
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-02-01
Features: Gargantua and Pantagruel is a great masterpiece of humanism that celebrates humanity, praising human nature and creativity. It fiercely criticizes the feudal society of 16th-century France, serving as a cry from the emerging bourgeoisie against the rule of the feudal church and fully reflects the humanists' affirmation of humanity, human nature, and human creativity. In the novel, Rabelais harshly condemns the hypocrisy and cruelty of the church, particularly denouncing the scholastic education of the Catholic Church that poisons children. The novel proposes the slogan "Act according to one's will," embodying the author's humanist ideals and fully reflecting the aspirations and demands of the emerging bourgeoisie. The book portrays towering figures like Gargantua and Pantagruel—mightily powerful, highly knowledgeable, magnanimous, and peace-loving—celebrating the emerging class of the Renaissance. This book swept away the artificial and pretentious style of aristocratic literature, bringing a lively, life-like, and accessible fresh breeze to the literary scene of the time.