Geary-Introduction-1994

Introduction to Living with the Dead in the Middle Ages

Chapter and Author Details

• Chapter Title: Introduction

• Book Title: Living with the Dead in the Middle Ages

• Author: Patrick J. Geary

• Published by: Cornell University Press

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Societal Attitudes Toward Death

• Modern Approach to Death:

  • Fascination with violence and death contrasts with discomfort around the subject.

  • Society avoids facing death as it is perceived as unnatural, highlighting failures in technology and medical systems.

  • Death viewed as the ultimate failure and indictment of humanity's control.

  • The dead seen as failures and burdens to the living.

• Aftermath of Death:

  • Focus largely on dying and mourning, leaving the dead to slip from societal consciousness post-funeral.

  • Cultural shifts have minimized the role and memory of the dead, leading to neglect in memorialization.

  • Mourning Norms:

    • Public mourning has diminished, with superficial expectations of recovering from grief soon after loss.

    • Extended mourning viewed negatively by society.

Historical Context of Death in Society

• Abandonment of the Dead:

• A gradual societal shift leading to neglect of the dead started in the High Middle Ages.

• Monks and canonesses initially cared for the dead's remembrance.

• Protestant Reformation intensified neglect as reformers rejected the dead's involvement in the living's lives.

• Late twentieth century sees unprecedented ability to forget the dead following violent conflicts.

• Past vs. Present:

  • In contrast to modern times, death in medieval Europe was omnipresent, and the dead remained integral to the living community.

  • Death marked a transition rather than an end, with obligations of memoria (remembrance) owed to the deceased.

  • Cultural Practices:

  • Liturgical remembrances continued for years; saints' cults encouraged ongoing relationships with the dead.

  • Physical remains such as tombs and relics served as connections between the living and the dead.

Book Structure Overview

• Methodological Approaches:

• The initial chapters focus on historiographic methodologies regarding the dead's role in society.

• Historical evaluation involves:

  • Interpretation of written sources.

  • Reading objects and actions as texts.

  • Reading fragmented literature related to death.

• Representation of the Dead:

  • Examines how the dead form a significant aspect of societal realities, exploring rights, roles, and property control.

  • Highlights the socio-political roles of the dead in community negotiations and disputes.

• Cults of Saints:

  • Examines the development of saint veneration and its integration into community life.

  • Discusses the phenomena surrounding sacred sites and cult practices.

• Living Communities:

  • The final chapters investigate how communities engaged saints as patron figures in challenges they faced.

  • Analyzes deeper social and cultural engagements with the dead.

Conclusions on Medieval Society and the Dead

• Supply of Evidence:

• The work does not attempt to give a complete view but suggests ways to understand the relationship between the living and the dead as a single community.

• Acknowledges complexities in medieval society often overlooked by simplified religious or cultural narratives.