Pico della Mirandola's 'Oration on the Dignity of Man,' written in 1486, is often considered a manifesto of Renaissance humanism. In this work, Pico argued that humans possess free will and the capacity to shape their own destinies, challenging the fixed nature of humanity as portrayed by medieval scholasticism. His ideas laid the groundwork for a new understanding of human potential and dignity, influencing the intellectual landscape of the Renaissance.

Pico della Mirandola's 'Oration on the Dignity of Man' in 1486 shifted literary focus towards human potential and agency. This philosophical treatise influenced the character development of tragic heroes in Elizabethan drama and poetry, emphasizing themes of individual ambition and moral choice.