2Pleasure Was Closely Linked to Control
Venice’s rulers were not blind to Carnival’s excesses—they managed them carefully. By allowing indulgence for a limited time, authorities kept the population satisfied while reinforcing control the rest of the year.
Carnival was, in many ways, a calculated illusion of freedom. Behind the scenes, the Venetian state monitored behavior through informants, even during celebrations. Revelry was encouraged—but never fully unobserved.
This balance between pleasure and surveillance helped Venice maintain stability for centuries.
