One of the primary goals of the Renaissance, other than reviving Classical standards in art and lifestyle, was the development of Humanist philosophy—a system of thought that persists to date.
Humanism is the idea that all of civilization's problems can be solved through rational human thought. In the Renaissance, this subordinated the authority of the Catholic Church. Today, there is still cultural debate among those who wish to solve civilization's problems through rationalism and scientific knowledge, and among those who think that religion ought to take precedence in all aspects of public life.
Renaissance literature, particularly Dante Alighieri's The Divine Comedy, is still very much read in schools. The epic poem takes Dante from Hell (the Inferno) to Purgatory in the company of the Roman poet Virgil, then to Paradise in the company of his beloved Beatrice.
The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio is less frequently read. It tells the story...
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of a group that has gathered in a deserted villa for two weeks to flee from the Black Plague in Florence. They tell stories to keep each other entertained. By the end of their time in the villa, they have told 100 stories.
Though The Decameron includes elements of medieval religious superstition and mysticism, it also elevates the characters from the mercantile class. They are witty and sophisticated, while those from more traditional and rural backgrounds are regarded as stupid. One could draw similarities today with the language that is used to refer to people from certain places.
Can we relate to Renaissance literature, or is our world too distant from it?
How often have we heard--even in rather pedestrian movies--a person or character remark, "You know, So-in-so is a real Renaissance man." The "intense moral feud" is as kc4u so eloquently has described, indeed, a universal and existential state. This is the very feud that Saul Bellows's Herzog finds himself mired in, for one example.
Whether or not the modern world can relate to the Renaissance, we are surely attracted to it. We love the big dresses and the elaborate art and the "grand"-ness of it all. The music still shows up in our world (think Manheim Steamroller), as does the art and even the clothing (although I doubt we'll ever see the pantaloon style and hose for men come back into style anytime soon!). We're fascinated by the characters of the Renaissance, particularly the Medicis and the Tudors. The word falls trippingly off the tongue and we are consistently looking for the next "new" thing, often by looking back at what was.
In terms of the literature, this is the stuff we still read and still enjoy. The characters of Renaissance literature are alluded to and replicated in both modern literature and in movies. These classics won't be phased out of our world anytime soon.
This is the sort of question that is really one that each individual must answer. However, for the sake of generalization, I would have to say that of course we can relate to literature from the Renaissance. In support of this point of view, I would offer a novel, Don Quixote, and basically the entire canon of Shakespeare's plays. We can relate to these texts, even in the 21st century, because their characters are ones that move and touch our understanding of what it means to be human, no matter what time period we live in.
Don Quixote is understood by most scholars to be one of the very first (if not first) modern novels. As Unnamuno (from the Enotes study guide of the novel) states below, the book continues to affect and move readers:
Ever since Don Quixote appeared in print and was placed at the disposition of anyone who would take it in hand and read it, the book has no longer belonged to Cervantes, but to all who read it and feel it. Cervantes extracted Don Quixote from the soul of his people and from the soul of all humanity, and in his immortal book he returned him to his people and all humanity. Since then, Don Quixote and Sancho have continued to live in the souls of the readers of Cervantes' book and even in the souls of those who have never read it.
And I could include many, many quotes about how readers and playgoers throughout history have been moved by the works of Shakespeare. The sheer number of theatre companies which consider themselves to be Shakespeare Festivals throughout the world attest to the continuing attraction and ability to relate to the characters of these great plays. Here's a quote from the Entoes introduction to Shakespeare the Dramatist:
Few dramatists can lay claim to the universal reputation achieved by William Shakespeare. His plays have been translated into many languages and performed on amateur and professional stages throughout the world. Radio, television, and film versions of the plays in English, German, Russian, French, and Japanese have been heard and seen by millions of people. The plays have been revived and reworked by many prominent producers and playwrights, and they have directly influenced the work of others.
Please follow the links below for more on Don Quixote and Shakespeare.