Rabelais and his world

Abuse with uncrowning, as truth about old authority, about the dying world, is an organic part of Rabelais’ system of images. It is combined with carnivalesque thrashings, with change of costume and travesty. Rabelais drew these images from the living popular-festive tradition of his time, but he was also well versed in the antique scholarly tradition of the Saturnalia, with its own rituals of travesties, uncrownings, and thrashings. Finally, the carnivalesque character appeared on private family occasions, christenings and memorial services, as well as on agricultural feasts, the harvest of grapes (vendage) and the slaughter of cattle, as described by Rabelais. In the time of Rabelais folk merriment had not as yet been concentrated in carnival season, in any of the towns of France. Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras) was but one of many occasions for folk merriment, although an important one.