First Year Winner: Misogynistic presence in Cellini's Vita & the works of Machiavelli

HUMA 1125, Medieval and Renaissance Civilizations. CD: Thomas Cohen.

Abstract

This paper, “Misogynistic presence in Cellini’s Vita & the works of Machiavelli,” stands out for the subtlety of its response to the assigned question, strength of its textual analysis in arguing its position, and perceptive demonstration of how literary and structural techniques engage with larger thematic elements of the texts and general societal issues – in this case, that of misogyny. Shailee Peck skilfully identifies telling passages that characterize each author’s particular species of misogyny, delineating a sharp contrast and building a compelling argument.

In these features, Peck’s paper shows a mix of historical awareness, alertness to the workings of the text, and sensitivity to both authorial intent and readers’ reception very rare in first year writing. What’s more, it accomplishes this with felicitous prose style, free of jargon. Peck has gone well beyond the requirements of the assignment to produce a sophisticated piece in its own right.