Responses To The Black Plaque Analysis

Responses to the Black Plaque Gabriele d’Mussis initially explains the causes of the plaque to be “as though arrows were raining down from heaven to strike down and crush the Tartars’ arrogance”. Gabrielle’s understanding of the causes of the plaque changes as he traces its movements from East to West. He explained how when they would throw the decease along the sea it would eventually poison the water supply. When one person becomes ill, it was only a matter of time the next person. Everyone who had come to the East was bound to become sick with this plaque and unfortunately die, just like everyone else who had been. The reader sees how his understandings of how this all came about changed as some would escape by boat to the West. He says how some people would go to Genoa and others to Venice and some other primarily Christian areas. It was almost like there was a demon inside those who had escaped. The plaque started to spread even more.
Previously Gabrielle d’Mussis described this as a strike down from heaven that has now turned into devil inside. This plaque was unstoppable. It got to a point where families would start making arrangements of their burials before they even were affected. Cemeteries were too

full along with other places where one can have a burial was getting scarce. There just wasn’t enough room anymore! In the end, it became common that whole families and neighbors had to be buried all together in one place. A letter from the Town Council of Cologne wished to stop the violence against the Jews.
During the plague it seems as though there were many rumors flying around that the Jews are the blame! Many claimed the Jews have poisoned the springs and the wells. As numerous people passed and the rumors spread about the Jews, the Town Council of Cologne sent many letters to all the cities and towns as well as investigated on the rumors towards the Jews. The Council stated as long as the Jews remain innocent they should not be disturbed or harmed in anyway. They forbid any type of harassment of the Jews, and decided to accept them and keep them safe. This is interesting seeing the Jews were never quite treated well from what we have learned so far about the Jews in medieval Europe. The Jews lived in certain spaces and wore distinctive clothing. Some were wealthy some were not but they did not have total freedom. By the Town Council of Cologne saying they will defend them faithfully as well we protect them is very
surprising. In my point of view, these two perspectives display a rational approach to the horrors of the Black Death in completely different ways. Gabriele d’Mussis talked most about how the plaque came about. He explains how the plaque spread from East to West and what the families and individuals would do to prepare for this tragedy. The approach the Letter from the Town Council of Cologne was more of a behind the scenes approach. Nowhere does Gabriele speak of the Jews. The Council of Cologne explained the rumors placed on the Jews, and what they were

to do about them. The Council should a different side as they open a new light deciding to protect and defend them as previously the Jews were not very wanted people to be around or to be cared of. In conclusion I personally would say these two perspectives do place a rational approach to the horrors of the Black Death. I only wish Gabrielle d’Mussis would have gone into more detail for the reader to understand her perspective more.