Duelling and Honour Flashcards
At the start of the chapter, what happened to Tomatis? What did Casanova believe should have happened as a result?
- He was slapped by a servant.
- Casanova believed that he should have killed him–> stain on his honour, dignity.
What caused the whole duelling issue in the first place?
- Casanova caught in the presence of Branicki’s lover, La Casacci.
What caused the elevation of the whole situation to warrant a duel?
- Branicki jealous –> saw Casanova as a rival.
- Ordered Casanova to leave the room –> Casanova showed hilt of sword.
- “Venetian coward” –> Casanova threatens to kill him outside of the theatre.
Why was Casanova angry about this whole situation? And why did he want to duel?
- An insult on his honour.
- A want to maintain it or cause serious harm upon those who insult it.
Give a quote that was said about duelling / honour.
- ‘Affront to my honour’ –> after being told to leave, in the presence of three guards.
- ‘One must do everything or nothing’.
What was so strange about the concept of duelling for honour?
- It warranted the death penalty.
- People still head strong enough about the decision that they would pursue it anyway, even at the expense of one’s own life.
What was so peculiar about the procedure of duelling? How’s this shown in Casanova?
- The duellers tended to remain honourable to each other.
- Formalities about deciding weapons to use.
- Formalities in letters = shows the respect that society held at the time for other gentlemen / people up the social strata.
- Duelling a formality in itself, gentlemen’s agreement.
- Even after shooting him, Casanova rushes to Branicki’s side.
(In La-Vague-Manty’s writings) What did duelling do for honour?
- Duelling was a means by which honour was made, maintained and understood.
(In La-Vague-Manty’s writings) Where did duelling get its sanction from?
- Aristocratic privilege.
- Cultural ethos of aristocracy –> aristocrats are people who get to settle some particular disputes ‘extra-legally’.
(In La-Vague-Manty’s writings) What does dignity have to do with this?
1) Someone successfully challenges your claim to dignity.
2) Somehow demonstrate that you indeed do have it.
3) Not to do 2 would mean forfeiting it.
(In La-Vague-Manty’s writings) How does the ethos of duelling demonstrate a relationship of fundamental equality?
- Ability to demand or give satisfaction to honour challenges requires a relationship of equality between the duellists.
- Kind of respect for each other.
(In La-Vague-Manty’s writings) How is challenging someone to a duel a form of respect?
- Duelling acknowledges the possibility of a vindication from the challenged honour.
(In La-Vague-Manty’s writings) In terms of honour, what could refusal to a duel mean?
- That refusal stems from fear and not confident superiority.
(In La-Vague-Manty’s writings) What did a man, under the pseudonym Leo, say about duelling in 1787?
- Courage to risk one’s life is part of what it means to be a man.
(In La-Vague-Manty’s writings) What does the meaningfulness of the duel require?
- An appreciation of life –> willing to die to defend one’s honour.
