An Interpretation of Machiavelli’s Favola

This paper proposes a new interpretation of Machiavelli’s Favola, a little piece which has not received much attention from scholars. One of the most interesting readings shows the philosophical layer of the Favola by pointing out its underlying criticism of traditional religion. In partial agreement with such a reading, the present paper maintains that the Favola’s main teaching concerns human misery and how it can be avoided. First, the paper shows the Favola’s strong narrative unity, contrasting with most interpreters who see in this tale a confused combination of different sources. Second, it offers a detailed analysis of the main characters, focusing primarily on Belfagor in his threefold manifestation (devil, man, spirit) and the unassuming peasant Gianmatteo del Brica. The main teaching of the Favola, which is articulated in full in the last paragraph, amounts to a bitter sapiential view of the human condition: most men are condemned to misery on Earth and a mild form of damnation in Hell; only by chance is one endowed with such qualities as are apt to keep one away from unhappiness.