Crazy Roland "is a long narrative poem created by Italian poet Ariosto in the early 16th century. The story continues from Boyardo's" Roland in Love "and consists of three main narrative lines, with Roland's love and pursuit of Angelica being the core. In Song 34, Saint John accuses Roland of love as "incesto amore", meaning "incestuous love", but Roland and Angelica are not related by blood. Commentator Caretti explains that "incesto" is used as an adjective here to refer to the "impurity" caused by religious differences. However, other lovers of different religions in the work were not subjected to similar criticism, which led to further exploration of the meaning of "incesto amore".

Impure love caused by different religions

Explored the meaning of the word 'incesto' in 'Crazy Roland' and its application in different contexts. Through searching and analyzing the original text, it was found that "incesto" appears as a noun in songs 6 and 36, but is used as an adjective in song 34. Caretti believes that 'incesto' originates from a Latin adjective meaning 'impure'. Although the use of "incesto" in Song 34 is related to different religions, the other two examples of using "incesto" do not seem to have a clear color of being against or harming Christianity. Therefore, interpreting "incesto" as having religious connotations may seem a bit far fetched, and whether "incesto" in Song 34 refers to Roland being punished by God for falling in love with a non believer becomes less clear.

2 Examples of "Pure Love": Zebino and Isabe

Explored the concept of "incesto amore" in "Crazy Roland", and revealed the different attitudes towards pure and impure love in the work by comparing the relationships between Roland and Angelica, as well as Zebino and Isabelle. The love between Zebino and Isabe is depicted as a model of purity, while Roland's love for Angelica is seen as an impure 'incesto amore'. Analysis indicates that there is a significant difference in character between Angelica and Isabelle, with Angelica exploiting others' emotions while Isabelle remains loyal to love. Roland's love begins with lust, while Zebino and Isabe's love is a spiritual fusion. In addition, Isabelle's love prompted her to convert to Christianity, while Roland's love failed to change Angelica's faith. Through these comparisons, the author implies the power of pure love, even religious differences can be transcended. At the same time, the chapter also mentions the relationship between Ruggero and Bradman, whose love also meets the standards of pure love and is not marked as "incesto amore". Aliosto provides an evaluation standard for the love relationship in the work through the story of Zebino and Isabe, emphasizing the value and importance of pure love.

3. "incesto amore" by Ariosto

Explored the application and deep meaning of the concept of "incesto amore" by Ariosto in "Crazy Roland". Aliosto implies a connection to his own emotional experiences, particularly his secret marriage to Alexandra Bernucci, by denying Roland's love for Angelica. He used the authority of God to strengthen his judgment of 'incesto amore', surpassing the concept of love in 'Roland in Love' and proposing his own innovative understanding. Ariosto established the love between Zebino and Isabe as a model of pure love, which may have originated from Boccaccio's "Decameron" and Dante's "Inferno". He proposed a new paradigm of love by imitating and transcending the Italian literary tradition, which not only surpassed the previous work but also resolved the contradiction between secular love and sacred love. Ariosto's ideal of love is related to the Platonic ideas of the Renaissance period, where he believed that desire for love is an upward process from low-level beauty to high-level beauty. The love story of Zebino and Isabe reflects the rise from emotional beauty to intellectual beauty, ultimately reaching the divine beauty of God. Although Ariosto held onto the Platonic ideal of love, he was unable to achieve it in reality, and thus denied his own love in his works, reflecting the conflict between ideals and reality.

4 Conclusion

Explored the complex meaning of "incesto amore" in "Crazy Roland", pointing out that this expression is both rare and controversial because it uses the term "incest" to describe Roland's love for Angelica, which is unrelated to incest. By comparing the love stories of Roland Angelica and Zebino Isabe, it reveals Ariosto's pursuit of love ideals and struggle with reality. This expression not only reflects Ariosto's ambition to surpass the Italian literary tradition, but also reflects the influence of Platonic theory of desire during the Renaissance. Studying 'incesto amore' can help deepen our understanding of the ideas behind 'Crazy Roland' and Ariosto.