Duties Of Man

Author Bio: The author of "Duties," Giuseppe Mazzini, was an Italian author who wrote prolifically promoting the unification of Italy in the 1830s and 1840s. Mazzini was considered a liberal at the time for his nationalist ideas, but they nonetheless became important as Italy began merging into one united country by 1870. His works helped to lay the foundations for the liberal constitutional monarchy that would be established in unified Italy.

Context/Background:  During the 1800s, Italy and other European countries such as modern-day Germany were comprised of many small nation-states left over from the middle ages through the Renaissance and Enlightenment. As Europe grew into a more modern age, however, unification became an increasingly prominent idea that was propagated to the masses by advocates such as Mazzini in order to raise nationalism. These hopes for a united Italy finally came to fruition by 1870 through Count Camillo Cavour, whose efforts united the diverse regions and created the independent state of Italy.

Summary: While Mazzini first clarifies that a man's absolutely primary duty is to humanity and his family, the next and hardly less important duty is to his country and the brotherhood and unity focused towards the higher goal of a united country. He declares that united, independent countries are the highest order of nation, and what God originally intended before they were corrupted by greedy monarchs. The "Divine design" of unity will, Mazzini writes, transcend class and monarchy to unite all people of the country in harmony. The ideal nation would be one whose people are united by language, economic tendencies and specialties, culture, and history, and only when the people of a country are united together in brotherhood can this heavenly purpose be fulfilled.

Important Quote: "O my brother, love your Country! Our country is our Home, the house that God has given us, placing therein a numerous family that loves us, and whom we love... Our country is our common workshop, whence the products of our activity are sent forth for the benefit of the whole world."