In praise of weakness. Yes, these lines are meant to be a praise of what we are most ashamed of: our fragility. The pandemic every day shows us how much our belief that we are eternal and indestructible is a foolish illusion. For decades they have convinced us that we are invincible, we pay for motivational courses that teach us that "you can do it". They teach us that we must be ashamed of the tear we shed in the face of pain or defeat.

But the reality is that sooner or later "you won't make it". And that your greatest wealth lies in that tear you will shed.

It is in the and in literature we find the right solution to the discouragement that can come when beliefs crumble. There is a beautiful book by Alessandro D'Avenia "The art of being fragile: How Leopardi can save your life" which tells how many answers can be found in the words of the great poet from Recanati.

But you can also open the Odyssey to find a similar answer. Homer waits for 5 chants before presenting Odysseus. And how does this legendary figure present, this great warrior, this great hero returned from the mythological Trojan War? Calypso finds him on the shore, “his eyes were never dry with tears, his sweet life was consumed in sighing for his return”.

praise of weakness - David with the head of Goliath, Caravaggio, Rome
David with the head of Goliath, Caravaggio, Rome

We would have expected it with a sword in hand, with the chest covered with the blood of the enemies. Instead the great hero cries and pines for his pain, for the lack of his affections.

On the other hand, it will not be a coincidence that one of the most interesting events that the visual arts have immortalized is that of David and Goliath. The little son of Jesse, who grazed the sheep. But who manages to kill the Philistine giant Goliath only with a sling and some smooth stones.

Donatello's David, Michelangelo's David, those of Caravaggio ...

Artists have always known that the secret lies in fragility. And that's why they too praised weakness.

Featured photo by Janko Ferlič from Unsplash

In praise of weakness: how art teaches us to be fragile last edit: 2020-05-22T17:00:00+02:00 da Paolo Gambi

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