This is your first chance to make an impression in AP. Be the first to post!!! Be sure to respond to each other often. The idea is to create a dialog and a sense of community before we start in the fall.
The Decameron is a great work to start off the year. The stories we picked are really reflective of the work as a whole and the framework tale is a cool way to structure the stories. Be sure to read them in light of the period in which they were being written and look for the social commentary throughout the piece. It is a wonderful insight into the late Medieval and Renaissance mind.
All posts must be made by July 10
Hey, everyone! So, for the 3rd day 9th story who else sees the similarities between Boccaccio's tale and Shakespeare's "All's Well That Ends Well"? The plot's are very similar: a girl heals the King of France, who allows her to marry the man she loves, the husband is reluctant to live as husband and wife, etc. In the end, both wives win their husbands love through trickery. Hm, maybe the Bard is a plagiarist?
ReplyDeleteFor me, this book was difficult to enjoy. I thought that by having multiple narrators there wasn't enough time to appreciate each characters personality. Also, other than an in-depth description of the plague in the introduction, I think this work lacked detail when it came to characters and setting. Nevertheless, I thought that the stories were intriguing and interesting and that the book gave me a different perspective on medieval life. Anyone else feel the same?
ReplyDeleteI thought Landolfo Rufolo's story was comparable to a difficulty many Americans are currently facing. In this economy, when people lose their jobs, it's easy to feel like Landolfo, who lost everything. But just like his happy ending, my uncle just lost his business already has several job offers. This tale reminds us not to lose hope.
ReplyDeleteA passage from the Decameron that i think is really important was in the 6th day 10th story on page 407. 'What I am going briefly to demonstrate, however, in a short tale, as I promised, is that a little nous can get a man out of trouble. " (Nous means practical intelligence.) This quote was memorable because has such a simple lesson to teach- think before you act. This is important to remember because sometimes we react impulsively with damaging consequences. Oftentimes, the poor results could have been avoided if we had used common sense.
ReplyDeleteI think that the setting of this story is critical because it compels the characters to take action. The setting is Italy being devastated by the bubonic plague- an epidemic so destructive, "...men and women deserted their city and with it their homes and neighborhoods, their families and possessions, heedless of anything but their own skins.." (page 9) The threat of becoming infected with the disease is what motivates the characters to flee to the villa and begin telling their stories.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete@EMorrison
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that we do not get a complete view on the characters of the framestory and that the most detailed description in the book is the account of the plague's effects on Florence. However, the smaller stories made it more enjoyable for me because it gave more insight into the people of the period from different points of view (i.e. monks, judges, merchants, kings) than it would have had the narrative only described the storytellers, who are very much alike in background and therefore likely would have resulted in a less interesting book in my opinion. What does everyone think?
@thomasowen
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I really enjoyed the book. The smaller tales made the book as a whole more interesting. I think we do get a somewhat simple view on the characters based on the stories they tell and that helped me make a character profile for each person. It allowed the imagination to wander a bit which is always good when trying to entertain readers! Well at least it's good for entertaining me.....
@EMorrison
ReplyDeleteSorry for the late reply to your first post...
I was actually thinking the same thing. At first I pitied Bertrand of Roussillon because Gilette seemed a bit obsessed. However, after reading about how he left her after their wedding to go to Tuscany to help the Florentines I rethought his plight. Luckily for both of them love comes along. Does anyone have a favorite story? My favorite would probably be the 3rd day 9th story. My least favorite is unquestionably the 4th day 9th story. I think it was a dismal and gruesome story that stricktly contrasted the other tales. I'm not sure if this was the storytellers idea? Any thoughts?
@thomasowen
ReplyDeleteI agree with you as well. I enjoyed The Decameron because each of the smaller stories gave me a better idea of what life in Medieval Europe was like during this terrible time from different standpoints, rather than through one narrator. This therefore made the book, for me, a lot more engaging. I found most of the stories within this work to be very interesting, and they certainly kept my attention while reading. The book became a lot more enjoyable to me by having multiple stories within the framework tale, rather than one long narrative.
@thomasowen, SMcShea, and EMorrison
ReplyDeleteSorry I'm getting a late start, but like the Thomas and Shannon, I also enjoyed this book. The different narrators made it interesting in that no story was too similar. However, I see Eleanor's comment about lacking detail in setting and think she is right to think more detail could have been given. In some books details would have been more important, but I felt the purpose of this book was more enjoyment and fun. The characters needed something to take their minds off of the plague and hardships, which is why I feel the author did well to leave out the more detailed setting.
Hi everyone,
ReplyDeleteIn addition to my previous comment, I wanted to get an opinion on an issue in the book that was interesting to me.
When I was reading this book, I kept noticing how often the author tries to justify his writing and the actions of the characters. As he discussed in the introduction, many people during the plague fled, leaving behind dying spouses, children, and friends. The characters in The Decameron, as the author describes, were victims of this type of behavior; they were left behind during the plague. Now they too flee, only they are not leaving anyone behind. My question is if you think this is morally decent. Is it okay that they are leaving their town during this time? Are they leaving because they are scared, as so many had before them, or are they leaving to rid themselves of sorrow? I personally believe it is the case that they are not so much scared of dying. Instead, they simply desire happiness during a time of tragedy. Though this is my take on the situation, I was wondering if anyone else had some ideas as well?
@thomasowen, SMcShea, EMorrison, and Megan R
ReplyDeleteI also really liked this book. I enjoyed the myriad of short stories and how the different characters were "kings and queens" and chose different themes for each day of stories. Although, Boccaccio did not give many details on the characters, I think he revealed information about them by the themes they chose and stories they told. For example, Philostrato seems to a somewhat melancholy character because he chooses the theme of characters whose love ends tragically, and then proceeds to tell a a gruesome and depressing love story (IV Day, IX Story). I also agree with everyone that there was limited information on the setting except at the beginning. However there are a few descriptions of places such as the beautiful garden and Ladyglen. Perhaps Boccaccio wanted the focus to be on the individual stories rather than characters or setting? If you have any ideas on Boccaccio's decision not to give detailed descriptions, please share!
@Megan R
ReplyDeleteI also noticed how Boccaccio always seemed to be justifying his writing. I thought of a couple possible reasons why. One reason might be that he thought that his writings were inferior to other authors and influences such as Dante and Petrarch. Another reason might be because he was facing criticism for one of his main audiences being young women, which might have been considered strange since he was an older man.
To your other questions, I think it was morally acceptable for the characters to flee. Everyone in their families had either already fled or were dead. I think by staying longer they were putting themselves at risk of catching the disease. I don't think they were necessarily scared of the plague, but rather cautious, and not wanting to push their luck. My one question that arises from this is, "Do you think it is right to seek happiness during times of great sorrow for a population?"
@Megan R
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your point as to which the characters fled not only from the plague but to escape the sadness surrounding it. As it is said by Pamphilo, "we left Florence on a search of a little recreation, the better to preserve our health and our lives, turning our backs on all the affliction, the pain and misery that was constantly before our eyes... in case our present life should go stale with repetition... we should do well to return whence we came." (678-679). I can relate to the feelings in this passage. If I was placed in a similiar situation as the characters in the book, I would try to find whatever way I could to escape the repetitive loss of their own humanity during the plague and re-establish some normal sense of fun and leisure. By getting away with friends and living carefree, one could forget the constant worry of almost inevitable death and loneliness. I think this passage is important to the Decameron because it shows that they were successfully able to enjoy the company of friends away from the destruction that had been surrounding them.
@MSchaller
ReplyDeleteMy favorite story is X, 9, and my least favorite is VIII, 5.
I have a question regarding the use of Saladin in two stories (I, 3, and X, 9). In the first story, he is portrayed as being cruel in his attempt to bring punishment to the Jew Melchizedek before Melchizedek is able to outwit him. In the second story, he humbly accepts kindness from Torello, a Christian stranger, and then repays that kindness by freeing Torello from being a prisoner of war and by going out of his way to return him to his home before his wife is to be remarried. Why was Saladin such a popular figure in storytelling in that time period, and why is he represented in two completely contrasting ways?
@Megan R, CMea, and thomasowen
ReplyDeleteI also see Megan’s point about how the characters not only wanted to flee the dreadful plague in order to escape becoming ill, but also to find happiness during a time of total despair. I agree with Caroline in that I also think it was morally acceptable for the characters to flee. I say this because since most of their relatives and friends who had not yet died had already fled, there was not much reason for them to stay and chance getting terribly sick. They were trying to protect themselves from catching the disease as well. That being said, I also see the take that Megan and Thomas had on this situation. They may also be fleeing from the sadness and tragedy that surrounded them in order to find hope and pleasure. The characters were bounded by nothing but sickness and death, and as Pampinea put it, “…all we ever hear is: ‘The So-and sos are all dead’, or ‘So-and-so’s at his last gasp.” (p. 16). This had to have left them with a feeling of misery and distress, and I cannot blame them for wanting to flee. Ultimately, I think the characters fled because they wanted to find both happiness, and a safe and healthy environment to live in.
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ReplyDeleteOne passage I thought was important to the work was said by Pamphilio, during the X Day, IX Story. He said, "My object is that, in listening to my tale, even if our defects may prevent us fully meriting a person's friendship, we may take pleasure in being of service, hoping that in due course we shall not go without thanks." (page 652)
ReplyDeleteI liked this passage because I think the character was trying to convey that although people can't be perfect, we can do all we can to be kind and thankful towards people. I feel like this can be applied to every human being's life. People often forget about how lucky and thankful they should be for having friends and family who care about them and do so much for them. This passage reminds us that we should show thankfulness to friends by doing acts of kindness for them, regardless of whether thanks is returned.
I think this passage was important to the work because I think the characters often lacked what Pamphilio was saying. I think the characters failed to realize how great all of their friends were. They spent lots of time together and offered time and talents (music, singing, good storytelling) without realizing the efforts put into them. I think the characters would have been more appreciative of their time spent together had they heard this earlier and kept it in mind.
There are a lot of people who can think very quickly and be calm when there are last minute changes to a situation. Some people might become flustered and make fools of themselves, but others come out with ideas and statements that are better than the ones that had been originally planned. A character that can be compared to these kinds of people is Brother Cipolla, from the Sixth Day, Tenth Story. Brother Cipolla was set on showing the people the "feather from the angel Gabriel" but finds out as he starts to present this "relic" that it has been replaced with coals. Brother Cipolla is quick-witted and comes up with an incredible story about his adventures and how the coals were the ones that St. Lawrence was roasted on. Brother Cipolla was calm and was able to quickly come up with a way to successfully cover for this sudden change in plans. This kind of quick thinking is very useful for many people in all sorts of situations.
ReplyDelete@thomasowen
ReplyDeleteI was thinking that maybe Saladin was more of a legendary figure to these people than a realistic, historical figure. More than 150 years had passed since the time of the Third Crusade (where Saladin was most significant), to 1348 when the Decameron took place. That amount of time would have allowed for plenty of facts to be distorted. In both stories, Saladin was portrayed as being very powerful and rich. He might have been a popular figure in stories because he was so well-known.
A passage from The Decameron that I think is important is found in the introduction on page 16. “…as for them, if any of them are still left, how often have I heard and seen them enjoying the time of their lives…simply catering to their lusts without the smallest concern for moral scruples.”
ReplyDeleteThis passage stands out to me because it has a simple but practical message. It teaches us to enjoy life to its fullest, even in the toughest of times. The ten characters in this story try to do just that, as they tell stories to each other that help them escape from reality for a while. Even though they are in an extremely tough situation, they try to make the best of it. Another lesson that can be taught from this passage is not to worry about things you cannot change. The characters realize that they must take advantage of the time that they have, without worrying about what will happen next. This passage conveys that life will be much more rewarding and enjoyable if we live with a positive attitude, without worrying about things in the future that are uncertain.
The setting (Italy during the time of the plague) in the Decameron is a crucial element to the entire framestory. It is what allows these ten narrators to come together and tell the smaller stories that make up the most important part of the entire work. Their experiences in dealing with all of the plague's effects (constant death, abandonment, and lack of regard for others) enables them to find such pleasure in the simple act of telling stories with friends. Because Boccaccio used this setting, we get a sense as to why these narrators would take enjoyment of the opportunity to be creative and tell stories.
ReplyDeleteThe story I liked the most was X,9. It was a great tale of generosity between two very unlike people and how mutually rewarding repaying kindness can be. Torello's objective to be home before the deadline he set for his wife to remarry could have only been met by a man as powerful as Saladin. Saladin's gratitude towards Torello's initial acts of hospitality makes them the best of friends.
ReplyDeleteMy least favorite story was VIII, 5. The central plot element of pulling down an inept judge's breeches I feel was out of place with the rest of the stories we read. I wasn't able to enjoy that story as much as others in the Decameron.
@thomasowen
ReplyDeleteI also did not like the VIII day, V Story. I agree that it did not seem to fit in with the rest of the stories. It just seemed too trivial. With a lot of the other stories, there was a moral lesson, or a character had used great wit and was wise. In this story, I did not come away with that as much.
One of my favorite stories was the III Day, IX Story. I liked the character Giletta, because she was very resourceful and determined. She also unconditionally loved her husband, and, despite his terrible treatment of her, it was never even hinted that she ever got angry with him. Because of her quiet determination and resourcefulness, Giletta accomplished two nearly impossible goals, and was reunited with her husband.
There are numerous people who have trouble trusting others, even when they know it is probably the right thing to do. Oftentimes people don’t want to trust someone because they are stubborn, they think they know better, or maybe they just don’t want to listen. A character in the Decameron, from the ninth day, seventh story, who also had an issue with trust was Talano d’Imolese’s wife, Margarita. He dreamt that a wolf tore and slashed the head and neck of Margarita. When he warned her the next day not to go outside, she thought he was being ridiculous, and decided not to listen. As it turns out, the dream came true, and Margarita was terribly wounded. Margarita could have avoided all that had happened if she had faith in her husband, and trusted that he was giving her the proper advice. We often find ourselves in similar situations today, although the outcomes are usually not as severe, where all we need to do is trust that whatever we are being told is the smart thing to do.
ReplyDeleteOne literary device that I found important to the work was the setting. Florence was being ravished by the Black Death. The whole city was becoming deserted. People were either dead or fleeing. Pampinea said, "And I don't know what it's like for you going home, but in my case I go back to find nobody left but my maid - and we once were such a large household." (page 16) The characters decide to flee because of the severe setting of death.
ReplyDeleteI also think setting was important in other parts of the story. I believe that Boccaccio thought that beauty was important. He did not neglect to describe in detail the garden where many of the stories were told. He said, "After this, they had a garden opened to them which lay adjacent to the house; it was a walled garden and as they went in, they were struck by its sheer beauty before they inspected it in detail." I think that this beautiful garden must have been conducive to storytelling and led to a relaxed atmosphere.
Another place described in detail for its beauty was Ladyglen, a small pocket of nature with a brook and fruit trees. The characters appreciate the beauty of this place and even spend a day here telling stories.
I think that the setting greatly influenced the story. It provided a motive for leaving the city, and a friendly atmosphere for telling stories.
One thing that I noticed throughout this book was Boccaccio’s depiction of women. Generally, women of that time period were given little rights, and usually had a lower social position than men. In The Decameron however, it seems to me that Boccaccio thought of women as a superior sex in many instances. He often portrayed them as wise, strong, and beautiful ladies. In several of the stories, I noticed that the women were favored over men. For example, in the third day, ninth story, Giletta was depicted as a very resourceful and wise woman, while Beltram, Giletta’s wife, was not portrayed as well, as he escapes before carrying out their wedding. I was wondering why this might be? Does anybody have any other thoughts or ideas?
ReplyDeleteI also think that the setting is one of the most important literary devices used in The Decameron. Medieval Italy during the time of the bubonic plague was an awful place to be, and Boccaccio describes it in a way that really reveals why so many people either died or fled from this dreadful outbreak. The disease, which was extremely deadly, “…transmitted from the sick to the healthy through normal intercourse, just as fire catches on to any dry or greasy object…” (page 7-8). This danger is what caused the ten narrators to flee to the villa and begin telling each other stories, which make up most of the book. If the setting would have been different, the stories would not have seemed to fit in as well with the framework tale, making the book as a whole, in my opinion, less interesting.
ReplyDelete@SMcShea
ReplyDeleteI agree with your points on Boccaccio's opinion of women. I was actually very surprised by how favorably he depicted them. The general opinion of women in those days was that they should be quiet and listen to their husbands, fathers, and other men. One thing that especially surprised me was how there was even a day (Day VII) devoted to telling stories about how women (easily) tricked men. The VII Day, I Story clearly portrayed Tessa as being the intelligent one, while her husband was portrayed as being oblivious. On that same day, there was a fight between two of the servants. Dioneo took the woman servant's side and even pointed out how stupid the manservant was being! I think that because Boccaccio's target audience was women, he wanted to flatter and respect them. I think Boccaccio was ahead of his time. He seemed to realize that women could be as vocal, wise, and resourceful as men. However, Boccaccio still often defends his work. I think his book might not have been taken as seriously at the time because his audience was women.
Can anyone think of any more examples of this? Does anyone have any ideas on why Boccaccio seems to think women are superior, but then has to constantly defend his work?
@ CMea
ReplyDeleteAgain, this idea Boccaccio presents (that women can be superior), seem to create some problems for him. As you said and I touched on before, he constantly defends his work. After finishing our assignment, I wondered why he would do this and came to basically the same conclusion you indicated: that people of the time would not accept his praise and acceptance of women as superior. As you pointed out, he seems to always talk of women in positive ways, and suggest good qualities. Women in this book seem to lead; it was there idea to embark on this adventure in the first place. The first leader of this group of ten was Pampinea, a woman. As ‘queen’, she came up with the idea of story-telling and set the course of activities that the characters followed almost every day. Neiphile, another woman, is the only one who makes any major suggestions when she proposes they take Friday and Saturday as days of religion and prayer. These intellectual women were written by Boccaccio and would not seem to mirror the image of women at the time, which is the only possibility I can think of as to why he tries to justify his work.
There was one time in my reading that I came across a few lines that could be interpreted in different ways. Had I not read any of the rest of the book, and Boccaccio’s respect for women was unbeknownst to me, this passage would have led me to believe he was making a jibe at women. However, due to the nature of Boccaccio’s writing, I know it to be more of a compliment.
ReplyDeleteOn page 551, at the conclusion of day 8 Emilia has learned she will become queen. It says, “At this Emilia came over a little bashful, less on account of being made queen so much as from hearing herself praised in public for a quality by which her sex is inclined to set great store.”
This passage seems to indicate that Boccaccio believed women to be modest and even deserving of compliments. However, had it been written by another man of the time, with a different opinion of a woman, I may have interpreted it as a crack at women and their strength in general and in social situations. This passage, I think, again exemplifies Boccaccio’s acceptance and esteem towards women, so different from others of the time period.
This quote is on a different topic than we have been discussing, but was especially interesting to me.
ReplyDelete“And that’s what I’m telling you, my lord, concerning the three religions given by the Father to the three nations, which you’re asking me about: each one considers his inheritance, his religion and commandments the one to give him title to the truth—but, as in the case of the rings, where the true title lies is still in dispute” (Boccaccio 41).
This quote indicates that there is not just a single truth in this world. People dispute over religion and politics, in addition to many other issues. In life, sometimes there is more than one right answer. One religion is not necessarily right. We believe in God and Jesus, while others don’t make the same connections. Still, we all believe what we do is right, so is that not truth? The same goes with politics, where one leader will combat another over various topics that concern the large populations. Sometimes, neither side is completely right, though both believe they are doing the right thing. Two sides of an argument can have truth.
Can anyone think of any other examples of disputes that have no clear answer?
The imagery in this books helps to convey the message of change within the time period of the book. In the introduction, Boccaccio paints a clear picture of the hardships people living at the times suffered. Those who developed the known symptoms of the plague were abandoned by families and left to die. People had to be taken to graves, and few could even be given that normality given the immense number of fatalities. There were corpses in the streets and drunkards around town. This terrible image is what led the characters to flee, and it gives me personally a better understanding of why. Later in their journey the characters are describing a stunning garden; one that is peaceful and magical.
ReplyDeleteThese contradicting images not only describe they change of setting, but also seem to relate to the change of moral. At the beginning of the story, the characters were abandoned and needed to flee the plague. However, once they entered their world of storytelling and wonderful gardens, their moods lightened and they were able to enjoy themselves. The imagery Boccaccio uses in his book helps to portray this change in the lives of the characters and helps readers to understand the times.
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ReplyDeleteHey everyone! Sorry for coming in so ridiculously late!
ReplyDeleteSo my biggest question, and one that nagged at me throughout the book was how the characters' names matched their personalities. At the very beginning of the book, Boccaccio says that he changed the names of the characters to names he throught suited his personality. Other than Dioneo, I felt like the characters didnt have much of a personality. I read and sometimes reread the introductions and conclusions and i still couldn't think of a reason for why Boccaccio named the characters the way that he did
@ CMea
ReplyDeleteBoccaccio's opinion of women was the main thing I noticed/liked about this book! He clearly seems to be a romantic, yet not a womanizer. He speaks of women not just as being attractive or sexually appealing, but he pays heed to their intelligence and wit. He even laces into the stories ways in which women outsmarted men and ended up getting what they wanted, even though to the public eye they seemed to be well behaved and obedient. One example that I thought was striking was in the 9th story on the fourth day. Although in this story the husband clearly out does the wife, she stands her ground. After eating her lover's heart she doesn't take the message the way her husband meant her to, instead she calls him mean spirited and cruel,makes a point of mentioning Cabestaing's contradicting kindness, and kills herself. Throughout the book women were either outsmarting men on the sly, or as you mentioned, being picked over men in an arguement, but not until this point had they also shown grace under a trying position.
One thing I noticed about this book was that though the world seemed to be ending around the 7 women and 3 gentlemen they decided to elope to their own mini utopia to leave behind the horror, while still retaining their respect. However, the stories they told were very contradicting! They escaped the blasphemy and disloyalty and such of they village, yet they still told stories about it. They made crude jokes and told tales of nuns having affairs, wives decieving husbands, and sometimes utter and pointless cruelty.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the point in forming utopia, if you are still going to weave in stories of the world you left behind? Does anyone else think this proves that though mankind says they want a perfect world with only happiness, they wouldn't be able to refrain from scandal and a good time? Is it still keeping your honor and dignity if you don't actually commit the adultery or blasphemy, but tell stories about others doing it? Either way is it not still on your mind?
In my opinion, the most useful and resourceful literary device used in this book was imagery. I feel that in order to grasp the book as a whole, you needed to get a good handle on what the world was like. Boccaccio's imagery was perfect for quiding you through the story as though you were really there. His description of the black plague ravaging Florence was so brutal in nature that you perfectly understood the group's need to flee the village. Had it not been for the death and misery described at the beginning, one would question why someone would leave friends and neighbors at a time of dire need. "'As I have mentioned, I saw this for myself one day in particular: the rags ofa pauper who had died from the plague had been tossed out into the streets when two pigs happened upon them; they nosed about the m with their snouts, as pigs do, then took them in their jaws and shook them this way and that; it was not long before they fell into convulsions, as if they had swallowed poison, then dropped dead on top of the raqs they had so haplessly snatched up." This to me painted a very ugly picture in my head. It was in giving instances such as this one that Boccaccio showed the despair that the men and women, who with reason fled, mus have felt.
ReplyDeleteWhen the group reaches the villa you automatically feel a sense of relief and calm, which puts you into a mood for a lazy night of story telling. "The garden was surrounded and intersected by a great many broad paths, each one straight as an arrow and covered over by trellised vines that gave every promis of producing grapes in abundance that year..." Boccaccio's description of the garden is perfect because it creates a sweet environment. The vines that may yield grapes was a perfect touch because it related to the characters. Just like the grapes, the characters were coming anew to a place they hadn't known before, in the hopes of ripening their lives.
Hey Everyone!
ReplyDeleteI have really been enjoying The Decameron. In my opinion it started out slow, but with time the story became fascinating. This story reminds me a lot of another story with a frame story, 1001 Nights. The audience of the storyteller each day in the Decameron must captivate his or her audience as Scheherazade must keep King Shahryar entertained in order to keep her life. In addition, the story tellers must have a constant flow of stories and always be prepared just as Scheherazade was for the King. On a different note, as stated in the introduction the title Decameron means ten days. I thought it was fascinating when I looked up the origin and found that the title quite literally comes from the words deka, meaning ten, and hemera, meaning day.
@thomasowen
ReplyDeleteIn response to the Saladin question, I did a little reading on him after reviewing the tales. Saladin was a Muslim warrior and also became Egypt’s first Ayyubid sultan in 1174. He happened to be very prominent during the Crusades and known as "the most formidable opponent of the Crusaders."
In 1187 he defeated the Crusaders at the battle of Hattin and also played a part in the 3rd Crusade, also known as the King's Crusade. I think the reason he was portrayed two ways was because although he was considered "cruel" for being an obstacle to the Crusades, he was known as a kind and humane leader. In the Decameron he is once described as "a man of courteous deeds and sterling worth." This, I think, is in reference to the wide spread common knowledge of his leadership practices. Of course, most judge others and I'm sure not all people favored him. I think Boccaccio gives an excellent representation of the two ways Saladin was portrayed during these times. He shows people take different views and sides on every issue. Plus, he also shows in an abstract way that no one is perfect.
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ReplyDelete@ SMcShea, Megan R, CMea, and thomasowen
ReplyDeleteI've been pondering on the earlier comments made about the characters fleeing the city... I have to ask this question, as we go to a Catholic school, and are surrounded daily by the tenets of our religion. How can we reconcile fleeing the city with the moral and ethical obligation we have as Christians to help our fellow men? Paraphrasing Christ’s position on the matter, at least as far as Matthew (25:40) tells us, is that “whatsoever you do for the least of my brothers, that you do for me.” I would argue that the victims of the plague certainly qualify as among “the least” of our brothers, so the group’s decision to save themselves, while certainly understandable, directly contradicts with our faith. Ironically, their plan to flee was hatched while they were in church. These people, instead of helping the inhabitants of Florence in any way , abandoned them. I see this as morally wrong. I, personally, would not want to be left alone to die while others flee.
Has anyone else noticed that the Introduction has a sort of Alice and Wonderland-ish feel to it? The men and women leave death and devastation, and, metaphorically, stepped through the looking glass and ended up in a wonderland. Then they end up in an idyllic spot to waste away the days telling stories? Does anyone else find this somewhat strange? They seem to forget about the illness and pain outside their little world, and that made me wonder what message the author was trying to convey about the place and responsibilities of the individual in a civilized society.
ReplyDeleteI noticed an interesting “rags to riches and back” pattern in the 2nd day 4th story. Landolfo Rufolo starts out rich, but due to his own greed, comes to rags (or being poor.) He then becomes rich because he steals, but loses it when he falls upon bad luck and the greed of other people. He once again becomes rich, this time due to good luck and the kind generosity of a peasant woman in Corfu. He went from riches to rags to riches to rags and finally to riches. The cycle was only broken by legitimate good acts of the peasant woman. All the previous iterations of the cycle were fueled by evil acts/motives. Although Rufolo is presented as “having learned his lesson” after his success as a pirate, we have to question for how long his new-found desire for the straight and narrow would have lasted had he not, once again, fallen into poverty due to evil acts and been rescued by true goodness. The peasant woman acted out of genuine benevolence, expecting no gain for her actions, as did the cloth merchants. Rufolo demonstrates that his conversion is genuine by paying back those who helped him, despite not having to do so. This, in my opinion, was an excellent example of the Morality Play genre popular during this period in history.
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading the 3rd day 9th story, I was struck by the graphic example of the transposition of values described. If you look at Gilette and Bertrand from a social and moral perspective you see almost exact opposites. Bertrand was of higher social standing than was Gilette, and was very concerned about maintaining that standing. However, Bertrand is an unappealing character due to his lack of moral foundation. Gilette, on the other hand, was of lower social standing, but was committed to a moral existence. True, she did practice some deceit in achieving her ends, but by so doing, helped to save the virtue of the young girl, while also ultimately saving Bertrand’s virtue by preventing him from committing adultery (even though he thought he had done just that!).
ReplyDeleteI also saw a contradiction in the treatment of the value of persistence. Gilette was persistent in the pursuit of her true love (however misplaced that love appears to seem for the bulk of the story) , and Bertrand was equally persistent in trying to get away from a bride he deemed unworthy. In my opinion, the one who should have been running was Gilette, and the one who should have been pursuing was Bertrand!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI think the 5th day 9th story is a cautionary tale dealing with the importance of style over substance.
ReplyDeleteFrederigo spends all his money to impress Monna Giovanna in an effort to impress her with appearances. He is trying to “Look Good” (Style)
Monna consistently rebuffed him since she was married; she was behaving in a moral manner. She was “Actually Good” (Substance)
When Monna visits Frederigo’s farm in a quest to save her son, he tries to impress her by killing and cooking his falcon, the only thing of true value he possessed, in order to impress her with the meal. Again, he is trying to “Look Good”
Despite the fact that his actions cause her to be unable to fulfill the promise she made to her son, she takes pity on Frederigo and is moved by his sacrifice, as misplaced as it was. As a result, she rewards him via marriage after son dies, again demonstrating that she was “Actually Good”
I found it interesting that, despite the fact that Frederigo appears to be a fool with misplaced priorities throughout the tale, he ends up being rewarded at the end of the story due to the genuine goodness of Monna…
Hey everybody! I have really enjoyed reading The Decameron this summer. This blog addresses questions one and two. I love learning about the Renaissance Era and it really interested me to read about the creative way that these people dealt with the plague. The only part of the story I didn’t like was the almost “out dated” vocabulary and phrases. It seemed to me that while getting translated into English, it may have had a few parts that couldn’t be translated properly, and I found those parts to be somewhat confusing. I still enjoyed the book, however, and have almost no complaints other than that.
ReplyDeleteSome of the stories in The Decameron did confuse me, so I have a few questions. The best example of this is story IX 2. In this story, a nun is caught in bed with her lover, and while she is being reprimanded by the abbess, the young nun notices that the abbess has committed the same acts of adultery that night. The abbess is embarrassed that her secret has been found out, and tells the nuns that they cannot deny the desires of the flesh. I didn’t quite understand this part of the story; adultery is a sin in the eyes of God and the church. So why would these nuns be committing adultery? It made me wonder, is this insight into how corrupt the church was at the time, or is it possibly the author’s opinion towards the members of the church? Or, it could just be a story about human weakness. So I could not figure out what the reasoning for this sinning was in this story.
For question 3, my favorite part of this book has been in story V9, where a man named Federigho gives everything he has to a woman he loves, but receives nothing from her in return. Then when she asks for his final possession, a prize falcon, he tells her, “When I heard you were to do me the favour of dining with me, it seemed to me right and proper, considering your high station and your merits, to set before you the choicest fare at my disposal, and not what one might serve to just any guest. So I thought of the falcon, which you have asked me for, and what a special bird it was, and it occurred to me that it would be a suitable morsel for you, and you’ve just eaten it, roasted and served on a platter- and I consider it could not have made a better end. But now I see that’s not the way you wanted it. I’m so upset I can’t give it to you. I don’t think I’ll ever forgive myself.” (Story V 9, p.372). The woman’s son then dies and she marries Federigho. So it is somewhat of a happy ending. I admire the man’s devotion to the woman, and how he waits for her even though it is almost certain she will never feel the same. I dislike this woman though, because I think that she has been using him the entire story to get whatever she wants, and in the end, she marries him out of pity, not love, in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteFor question 4, I think that the most important literary device used in The Decameron is the setting of Italy. In Renaissance Italy the towns throughout the country are connected through social ties, so that the people in the various towns know about the scandals of the neighboring towns. This is where the characters in The Decameron get most of their stories: of wives cheating on their husbands, of nuns committing adultery, and of inadequate judges getting pranked by the townsfolk. Had it not been for this setting of Italy, the characters of The Decameron needed this setting in order to have stories to entertain themselves.
ReplyDeleteFor question 5, I am responding to @ Lucy S, and I also saw the similarities between 1001 Nights, and I found that some of the stories in The Decameron were almost identical to some of the stories in 1001 Nights. Not to say that Giovanni Boccaccio was plagiarizing his entire book, but I think it’s strange that both books use the same idea of a story within a story. It could be that this was a popular way of writing back in the Renaissance Era, or perhaps Boccaccio took some of his ideas from 1001 Nights, or the other way around if Decameron was written first.
ReplyDelete@ Lucy S, @ OMcHugh.
ReplyDeleteLucy S, I agree with you that the frame narrative is a good literary device, making the story more engaging for the reader. However, I think that a better comparison with The Decameron than 1001 Nights would be Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. In 1001 Nights Scheherazade is the only one telling the tales. In both the Decameron and the Canterbury tales, the story tellers rotate, providing different perspectives on the tales they are telling. A good example of this that we have discussed a little bit on this BLOG is the different treatments the character of Saladin. In the first case, through the tale told by a woman, Saladin is portrayed as a little bit shady or deceitful, looking to force the money lender into giving him the funds he needs—it is only when he is beat at his own game that he demonstrates the generosity for which he was known. In the second telling, as related by a male narrator, he demonstrates generosity purely based on honor—Torello treated him well and he was morally obligated to do the same in return, despite the fact that Torello was now his prisoner. If any single narrator told the same two stories, I think that the narrator’s personal opinion would have presented itself and would have skewed the reader’s perception of Saladin’s actions
OMcHugh, in response to your comments about the use of the frame narrative format in writing The Decameron, from what I have read, this style of placing a series of small stories together into a larger work was a pretty common format for the period. As mentioned, these three notable works all use the same stylistic format….
The Decameron was the first book in a while that I have actually had to consistently use a dictionary to read. The general idea was interesting- ten people escaping their plague ridden city and entertaining themselves by telling stories fitting a certain theme. However, I found the stories themselves to be, in the most part, quite dull. I suppose that this is because I personally enjoy books that use heavy foreshadowing and mysteries. However, I did like some of the stories. My favorite was VI 10, which involved Fra Cipolla and the holy "relics." I love how he could think on the spot, in front of a huge audience, to cover up the fact that his feather from Gabriel was replaced by coals. "Now, I carry the Angel Gabriel's feather... in one casket, and the coals wherewith St. Lawrence was roasted in another, which are so like one to other, that hath often happened to me to take one for the other." (263) The book also mentions that he didn't even flush when he discovered the coals. That's why I like that story so much; Cipolla was extremely poised in a situation that would have had me stammering.
ReplyDeleteSo... The first day second story was the one that I related to the most. I didn't actually go through a shipwreck, but close to it. I had everything I wanted (or so I thought) and I took everything for granted, honestly thinking that I had nothing to lose, so I was always trying to get more. I was never skinny enough or pretty enough or anything enough just like Landolfo never had enough money, so he tempted fate. I did pretty much the same, except instead of a shipwreck, I got really sick. I lost everything just like Landolfo thought he had lost everything. But then, with the help of others who saw me stranded, like the woman helped Landolfo. Also, the same way that Landolfo had nothing but this chest, I had nothing but the people who loved me. So once I got better, with the help of those around me, I came back healthy as ever and grateful for the what the experience had taught me. When Landolfo looked into the chest and realized that it was worth twice as much as he had in the beginning (and he wasn't satisfied with what he had in the beginning), that really struck a chord with me. Why? Because when I looked around me, I saw all these people and friends that I could count on, and that was worth more than twice as much as what I had started out with. I just really loved this story, and it really clicked with me because I saw myself in it.
ReplyDeleteHere's a quote that I thought was really important. It's on page 254, in the introduction to the fourth day.
ReplyDelete"But what shall we say to those who, in their concern lest I go hungry, advise me to take thought for my bread? Well, I don't know, except that if I stop to think what their answer would be to my request for bread in an hour need, I believe they'd say: "Go root for it among your fables." There's many a poet who's found more sustenance among his fables than have a good many rich men among their treasures; and many are the poets who, by attending to their poetry, quickened the age in which they lived, whereas all too many of those who amassed bread beyond their proper needs came to an untimely end..."
This quote, I thought, pretty much summed up Boccaccio. He defends his works and his reasons for writing many times, but it wasn't until this passage that you understand what he is really about. He writes and pushes past his critics so smoothly because he writes for love of writing and not for money. He says that here, that people are telling him to move onto something that'll give him money, and his reply is that it doesn't matter because often times poor poets live richer and longer lives than rich men. This is extremely important to the novel because it is a fairly controversial novel for the time period. It talk about all sorts of scandalous things that probably got him ostracized and deemed the town pervert, but yet he still wrote it. His belief in the effect of this novel transcended the opinions of those who wanted him to fail. If not for this point of view, Boccaccio may well have given up, never to write the timeless novel that is now the Decameron.
@ OMcHugh
ReplyDeleteI never stopped to think about it that way! I agree that their stories were definitely inspired by scandals they probably heard all around them. My dad is Italian and he laughed at your post and said "he's smart!"
@ MSchaller
ReplyDeleteI actually think that Frederigo is sweet. Granted, he's a little out of sorts, but his intentions are good! I think he tries to impress her with those things because she is of that status. He probably felt that those would be the things to impress her and win her over. With the falcon, I thought it had great sentiment. He was willing to butcher the only thing he had to his name for her, because he clearly felt she was worth it. I think in the end she realized that now that she had no one left, he really was a nice guy and she was willing to marry him. I feel like Frederigo was more good than Giovanna. He loved her from the start, she only gave him the time of day twice; once when she needed something from him, and once she had nothing left to lose.
Personally, I really enjoyed The Decameron. I thought the fact that all ten people simply told one story each for ten days made the book relatively easy to follow. I liked the general idea of three men and seven women finding comfort at a time of great tragedy and great sickness by telling short stories to one another. It reminds me that sometimes the best things in life are free. By reading the story, I also felt as though I got a good sense of medieval Italy's culture. However, one thing struck me throughout the whole book... Was adultery truly that common at the time? For instance, in the ninth story of Day 4, Guillaume de Roussillon's wife has an affair with Guillaume de Cabestaing. Also, in the first story of Day 7, Gianni's wife Tessa has an adulterous relationship with the handsome young Federigo. What really astonished me though was the second story of Day 9. It was difficult for me to believe the fact that even Mother Usimbalda, the abbess of a convent, was sexually involved... with another clergyman of all people! I just assumed that noblemen and noblewomen would have acted more chastely at the time.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, one element I did not quite grasp was why Dioneo was exempt from sticking to the theme that the king/queen had chosen for that particular day. Was it just hard for him to come up with stories? Did he feel superior to everyone and think that he should not have to have his stories restricted to a certain topic?
Finally, in the ninth story of Day 3, a young woman named Giletta is trying to win her husband Beltram back, but to do this, she must conceive a son of his. So, she journeys to Florence and takes the place of Beltram's mistress so that she can sleep with him instead. All I ask is this: Is Beltram blind? I doubt that a man would not be able to tell the difference between his wife and a poor peasant girl who he happened to fall in love with. Does anybody have an answer to that?
Not only did I like the stories themselves, but I liked the way in which they were presented... Everyone tells a story with a different topic each day. It resulted in much variety. Every story was different; every moral of every story was different.
ReplyDeleteIf I had to pick a favorite story, I would choose the seventh story of Day 9, which was told by Pampinea. It expresses the mutual trust and respect that must be present in a relationship, especially in a marriage. In the story, Talano d'Imolese has a dream that his beautiful but stubborn wife Margarita is attacked by a wolf and suffers severe facial wounds. Scared that his dream might become a reality, he asks Margarita to stay indoors for a while. However, she completely ignores his request. She does not want to be told what to do, and she randomly assumes that the reason he wants her to stay inside is so he can go and make love to some other woman. So rather than heeding his advice, she spies on him from the woods to see what he is doing and to see if anybody is coming near him or the house. Suddenly though, a wolf comes right up to her! Sure enough, it attacks her, and she is left with permanent facial damage.
Obviously, Margarita would not have suffered at all had she listened to Talano. The story teaches us that husbands and wives must love each other and believe in one another in order to have a strong, fruitful marriage.
My least favorite story was definitely the first story of Day 7. The narrator was Emilia. Throughout the book, Giovanni Boccaccio admits that he very highly respects the female sex. He seems fascinated by women. However, in this story, males are depicted as simple-minded, unsophisticated people. As Gianni Lotteringhi and his wife Tessa are sleeping soundly in their bedroom, Tessa's lover knocks on their front door, eager to sleep with Tessa that night. Gianni gets out of bed and is about to answer the door when Tessa tells Gianni that a "cat phantom" is at the door. Gianni is convinced by the lie, and Tessa utters a fake spell to ward off the phantom. The spell is really a coded message to her lover, Federigo, telling him to go to the orchard, which is where she left some food for him.
ReplyDeleteThe story is somewhat humorous, but I think that males are commonly tricked on account of their own stupidity in literature. I especially do not believe that a grown man would believe such a foolish lie.
@Michael Coyle
ReplyDeleteRegarding the ninth story of Day 3 I agree completely with you. How can you hide such a difference? If the Count claimed to be so deeply in love with this peasant it would be assumed he could tell the difference. I was also shocked to see how easily he believed the children of the Countess were his. We all know there was no medical testing back then but he had not seen his wife in quite some time and she suddenly has twins. Also regarding the ninth story of Day 3,how could the Countess forgive the Count for his unfaithful behavior? She never seemed upset but had more of the, "keep calm and carry on" attitude in which she moved on from the scandal, made a plan and followed it through. Finally, I wonder what happened to the first lover of the Count, we never hear of her reaction!
@JP Ryan
ReplyDeleteI have to agree about the use of a dictionary in my reading, although I found that I enjoyed the inner stories much more than the frame story itself. I feel they were not dull, and in quite contrast, amusing! My favorite story was IV 9 in which Guillaume de Roussillon caused his wife to eat the heart of her true lover Guillaume de Cabestanh. The captivating element of this story was not only the twisted plot but the wave of emotions of Guillaume de Roussillon. He was a man who changed his mind and heart very quickly. I'm not only referring to when he found out his wife was having an affair, but he changed his mind and felt guilty for the death of his wife's lover (WIFE'S LOVER!) after his wife had committed suicide. In conclusion, the unexpected character traits were what led me to truly appreciate this story.
The story's setting is the 14th century during the Black Plague, which is said in the introduction. The author, Boccaccio, clearly portrays the confusion, doubt, and fright of the area- a mysterious disease wiping out the population, causing families to forsake one another. It is in this setting that the 10 protagonists are forced to escape the city to survive. The setting no doubt sparks the creative energy the characters feel as they tell their tales to each other.
ReplyDelete@thomasowen
ReplyDeleteI agree that the fifth story of Day 8 is not a very good one. There is no real moral to the story, and if there were one, it would be that judges and other figures of authority are clueless and do not deserve respect. It is slightly funny, but it's not very creative. Pulling someone's pants down is an old joke that appeals to plenty of ten-year-olds, but a story about doing that to judge probably should be left out of this book.
In regard to your questions about Saladin, keep in mind that the stories featuring him have two different narrators. The first story is told by Philomena, and the second is told by Pamphilo. Naturally, some people like Saladin, whereas others dislike him. Therefore, those who like Saladin will speak positively of him. They will tell stories that show his admirable qualities. However, one who does not like Saladin will try to depict him as a cunning,evil person. It is very possible that Pamphilo simply thought Saladin was a virtuous man and a great historical figure, so he told a tale of him being generous and kind. Philomena, on the other hand, probably viewed Saladin as a deceitful, bad man. Because of this, she made him look like the villain in her story.
I think that a big part of the book was a large reference toward God, and the Catholic faith in general. I did a search, and apparently the word "God" is mentioned over 450 times. Also, several of the stories involve the faith, such as the one about the holy relics. Of course, some of the stories are less reverent than others (the one about the nunnery) but the thought is there.
ReplyDeleteI think anyone who has ever done anything wrong can relate to Mother Usimbalda, a character in the second story of Day 9.
ReplyDeleteShe is very upset at first when she realizes that Sister Isabetta is making love with a man. However, once the other nuns realize that she too has been making love with a man, she acts as though it's not a big deal for a nun to do so, despite the fact that the vow of chastity forbids it.
I think all of us think like that at times. Once we do something wrong, especially when we get caught, we try to convince ourselves that it's not as sinful as it really is. Before we start committing a particular sin, we may think that the sin is very immoral and unacceptable. However, once we start indulging in that sin and it becomes part of our reputation, it does not seem so bad anymore.
@EMorrison, thomasowen, MSchaller, SMcShea, Megan R, and CMea
ReplyDeleteI agree with what everyone else said. Although I really enjoyed this book and the glimpse of medieval life I got from the individual stories of the different narrators, I didn’t like how there was a lack of character development within the frame story. Although I was able to get to know some of the characters through their interactions with each other, I don’t think their development was the main focus. In fact, they did not have much development at all. Instead, I felt that the main point of this book was for Boccaccio to entertain his audience with his stories, and that the characters were his instruments for delivering the stories. Thus, this may be why he didn’t really get into developing most of the personalities of the characters. Does anyone else agree?
I think I can relate to the 7th story of the 9th day. I think we’ve all, at least once, had someone warn us not to do something because they knew from experience that nothing good could come of it—just like how Talano knew what would happen to his wife from his dream. Yet we choose to ignore them and do what we want, ultimately learning the hard way, as was the case with Talano’s wife.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI thought an important passage from the book was from the 2nd story of the 9th day: “The abbess, therefore, recognizing that she had committed the selfsame fault and that it was plain to everyone present…” (562) I think this is important because it teaches us that we shouldn’t be hypocrites. We can point out someone else’s wrongdoings and flaws all we want, but we should keep in mind that we have our own flaws as well, and that we all make mistakes. I didn’t like the way Mother Usimbalda was so stern with Isabetta, even though she knew she had been sleeping with a man as well. Mother Usimbalda probably would have punished her too, if the others hadn’t found out about her scandal. This shows how it’s easier to see flaws in others than it is to look within ourselves. I applaud those who are able to recognize their own faults.
ReplyDeleteI think imagery was an important literary device throughout the book. I agree with Caroline that the garden where they told many stories was full of vibrant images. The following quote exemplifies this: “As they wandered blissfully about the garden and made themselves lovely garlands out of foliage of various kinds, they could listen to the birds vying with each other in a dozen different strains of song” (170). I thought the imagery was an important part of the work because I felt the light-hearted descriptions of the places to which they escaped really reflected what the characters wanted to feel. The characters felt the need to escape temporarily to forget about the misery of the plague for a bit and to simply enjoy themselves through story-telling. Furthermore, the bright and joyful images provide a sharp contrast to the reality of their lives at home.
ReplyDeleteDoesn’t the 4th story of the 2nd day sound like another one of those ‘Cinderella’ stories? Like Cinderella, Landolfo went from rags to riches because Fortune decided to smile upon him. In the end, he was able to live happily ever after. Does anyone else think that this topic is rather cliché? Regardless, I enjoyed this tale and, as Eleanor said, it reminds us not to lose hope.
ReplyDelete"Once home, he felt safe at last, and thanked God for bringing him back... He sent a good sum of the money to the kind soul who had pulled him out of the sea in Corfu, to thank her for her help, and he did the same for the men in Trani who had reclothed him." (87). This passage from the fourth story of Day 2 is pretty self-explanatory, but it reminds me of how much one must value life if they almost had it taken from them. Landolfo Rufolo thanks God for watching over him and bringing him out of the sea alive. He also generously gives money to those who helped him get home safely. He seems to appreciate the "little things" much more once he gets home, and he becomes a much better person overall. He is no longer obsessed with his money. He is just happy to be living and to know that others are looking out for him. The near death experience helped Rufolo mature and realize that he should not take life for granted.
ReplyDeleteI have to say I really did enjoy the Decameron.
ReplyDeleteI liked how the stories all differed, but most had a lesson within. I also liked how all the characters took turns telling their tales.
I didn't like, however, the fact that characters who were truly good were held up as fools, while characters who were truly bad (or immoral) were portrayed in a positive light.
The connection I made was about how my uncle's wife committed adultery with a family friend and he found out. Much like Guillaume de Roussillon, my uncle was hurt and became enraged. Luckily, he didn't have his wife eat the heart of her lover! However, he did end their marriage over his wife's objections and for many years she tried to reconcile with him. In the end, my uncle was sadly never able to forgive the betrayal by his wife and friend and like Guillaume he metaphorically they were as dead to him as were Guillame's wife and friend were in actuality.
@CPoblete
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say that it's quite like a "Cinderella story." It actually reminded me of the parable of the Prodigal Son. Rufolo starts out very rich, but he foolishly loses all his money by trying to sell his possessions and become even wealthier. He then goes off on raids and steals money from other ships, but he loses that as well. This is somewhat similar to how the Prodigal Son loses his money. He spends it on gambling and such, which give him temporary pleasure, but he eventually ends up miserable. Likewise, Rufolo stole all the money and thought that would make him happy, but he too loses the money and ends up miserable. However, God looks down with favor upon both of them, and they are able to return home as better people than when they left. Just my thoughts...
I think the most important literary device was setting. Specifically, Boccaccio spends a huge amount of time describing in detail the most minute elements of the physical settings of not only the story teller's location, but also the location of the stories being told. This attention to detail adds a level of credibility and realism to the narrators' accounts.
ReplyDelete@MSchaller
ReplyDeleteAmong my favorites was the 6th day, 10th story. I was curious to read how Brother Cipolla would be able to outsmart the pranksters in such a tough situation. It was impressive that he was able to make up a story on the spot and succeed in entertaining the audience very well. Personally, if I were in Brother Cipolla’s position, I don’t think I would have been able to think of a way to handle the situation as well as he did.
Another favorite of mine was the 3rd day, 9th story. Giletta’s determination inspires me to work hard to pursue my own ambitions. Though others may tell us that it will be impossible to reach our goals, we should ignore them and, with hard work and a positive attitude, we can prove them wrong.
After doing some research and looking over the book again, I realized that allegory is prevalent throughout the book. As a matter of fact, every one of the ten narrators stands for a certain virtue/vice. Based on the fact that we only read about one story from each person, it was not very easy to decipher what each person represents. However, some were clearer than others.
ReplyDeleteFor example, Philostrato represents anger. This can be seen when he tells the ninth story of Day 4. In this account, a jealous Guillaume de Roussillon murders his wife's lover and serves his heart to her for dinner. Obvisouly, the story is thereby fueled by one man's anger.
Fiammetta represents justice. This trait is quite observable when she narrates the ninth story of Day 5. Federigo degli Alberighi had tried to impress Giovanna by preparing his beloved falcon for her to eat. Although she was planning on asking to take the falcon to her very ill son, she was astonished by how much he sacrificed just to try to make her a delicious meal for her. In the end, she rewards Federigo for being so unselfish by promising to marry him.
Pampinea is a symbol of prudence. In the seventh story in Day 7, she tells the story of how Margarita suffered a wolf attack after she refused to listen to her humble husband's request. (Which was to stay inside for the day). Clearly, this is a lack of judgment on Margarita's part, and her impudent decision lead to unbearable pain.
In case anyone want's to know what all the others represent, here it is:
Philomena - Temperance
Emilia - Fortitude
Lauretta - Faith
Neiphile - Hope
Elissa - Love
Pamphilo - Reason
Dioneo - Lust
Question....
ReplyDeleteDid anyone else sense a deep disdain on the part of Boccaccio for the Church in the telling of the tale of Friar Cipolla in Day 6, Story 10?
While others in the discussions above about this tale are impressed by the Friar's ability to think quickly on his feet and contrive a story to cover the lack of feather/presence of the coal, I am a little disturbed by the fact that the Friar, supposedly a man of God, in reality, told a bald-faced lie to the congregation in order to collect money from them. How is this any different from a con artist hawking a miracle cure or, in modern terms, executing a Ponzi scheme to bilk people out of their money? While we might (if we really wanted to stretch our willingness to believe) buy into the premise that the Friar actually believed that the feather he had was from Gabriel, it is clear that he knew the coal was not from the coal used to burn St Anthony. His story, while interesting, is a lie. Worse still, it's a lie told in his official capacity as THE local representative of the Church, and is a lie told to collect money for the Church.
Does anyone else think that Boccaccio's use of this tale, as well as other tales wherein the Church is portrayed in a negative light (e.g., the tale of the Abbess, etc) is indicative of Boccaccio's disdain for the Church?
I believe the quotation in Day 1, Story 4, on page 44:
ReplyDelete“And I say to you, my lord, that the same applies to the three laws which God the Father granted to His three peoples, and which formed the subject of your inquiry. Each of them considers itself the legitimate heir to His estate, each believes it possesses His one true law and observes His commandments. But as with the rings, the question as to which of them is right remains in abeyance.”
is particularly relevant for all of us in today’s day and age.
In this answer, Melchizedek puts into focus the conflict between believers of different religions in his day. While the names are slightly different today, the thoughts expressed by Melchizedek apply to the current conflict between religions today, most notably Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. All three religions firmly believe that theirs is the “one true faith,” and that theirs is the “one true God,” but the reality is that the resolution to the question of "who is right?" is beyond our ability to know. Like the sons in the tale, we are all striving to lay exclusive claim to the Heavenly Kingdom, and we are all equally convinced that ours is the most righteous claim.
Despite the fact that Melchizedek told the tale of the sons to wriggle his way out of Saladin’s trap, I believe Boccaccio’s intent was to encourage us to consider the possibility that we are not able, nor will we ever be while we live, to know with certainty. With this consideration on the intellectual side of things, I believe Boccaccio was subtly encouraging us to offer consideration on the behavioral side of things to those who believe in ways that differ from our own.
I have found many of your comments both thoughtful and insightful. For when we return to the classroom... think about how the Plague caused people to question everything. How is Boccaccio questioning life as he knows it? Remember to address all of the points listed in the directions. Enjoy the next book, and think about how sympathetic Dickens was to the French Revolution? Did he support it, or was he repulsed by it? Happy Reading!
ReplyDeleteThe book is both interesting and intriguing. I like the structuring of the stories into sets of “days,” assigning different themes each day, and sub-themes within days, which easily got my interest. The author purposely uses framing devices such as the use of rubrics to impose meaning and order, interrelated and iterative plots not only to increase suspense by not knowing what to expect next, but to also allow for artistic variations on a common theme to make this an all-time favorite pastime storytelling book. Also, the author artistically structures his narration by using concrete words and descriptive vernacular in such a way for the reader to have a clear picture on what the story is all about. Although most of the stories were entertaining, I disliked some of the stories that were intriguing and disturbing. For example, for the 9th story on the 4th day, why does Guillaume de Roussillon seek revenge on his wife and Guillaume de Cabestaing in a very disturbing way? Surely, there could have been another way of punishing his unfaithful wife and her lover, Cabestaing. I also find the 9th story on the 3rd day intriguing. How could Count Beltram not know that he had been to bed with his wife not only once but on several occasions? That’s really disturbing!
ReplyDeleteNothing is more important than that of Boccaccio’s description of the setting – a city being ravished by a deadly plague: “ … at the year 1348, when the deadly plague reached the noble city of Florence, of all Italian cities, the most excellent (6).” Nothing is more vivid than that of Boccaccio’s description of the devastating effects of plague: “Men and women alike were possessed by such a visceral terror of this scourge that a man would desert his own brother, uncle would forsake his nephew, sister her brother, and often a wife her husband. What is more, believe it or not, mothers and fathers would avoid visiting and tending their children, they would virtually disown them (10).” Boccaccio intentionally presents an elaborate description of the perilous plague. In doing so, he explicitly explains the reason that set up the need for the proposal for why a group of young people headed by Pampinea has to leave the city for a rural villa in order to escape the physical and moral contagion of the plague. Choosing characters from a wide range of background, from nobles to local notables, gives the story a variety of narrations from different perspectives - an important literary device in the making of The Decameron.
ReplyDeleteThe passage that I believe warrants a personal reflection is the one by Pamphilo, who said, “Recounting such tales, and listening to them, is bound to kindle your latent ambition towards acts of generosity. Life after all can endure for but a short span in mortal bodies, but your lives will thus be extended in a commendable reputation” (596). Our everyday interactions with people give us an opportunity to live out our catholic values. When it comes to almsgiving, I consider it a simple act of generosity that Christians ought to practice. Almsgiving is an occasional dole-out every time I would see beggars on the street, I would drop off some loose change on their dirty hands. More often, I would rather not mind the beggars at all because giving them money will only make them choose a life of mendicancy instead of striving harder for a better life. Until one day, on my way to the dance studio, an old man in tattered clothes with his little son sheepishly approached me begging for money to buy food. With that selfish attitude of never giving alms to beggars for litany of reasons, I chose to ignore them. But after taking a few steps, the sad expression in the old man’s face bothered me or probably bore out of pity, I decided to drop by a nearby convenient store and bought a handful of non-perishable can goods. I felt humbled when I handed the groceries to them. I experienced a wonderful feeling in my heart as the son’s face turned from a frown to a smile and his tears of hungry turned into tears of joy. The old man and the young boy enjoyed the food more by sharing it with two other beggars. They ate and laughed, forgetting the many nights they spent without food. By this simple act of generosity makes me a worthy neighbor. I was humbled because I wonder if I would do the same thing without expecting anything in return. The beggars are richer than I am because they shared even the little they had. More often, stories of generosity are what make people aspired to become generous towards others. In the end, as the old adage says: “what comes around, goes around.”
ReplyDeleteOn a personal note, I can relate to the personal experience of Federigo on the 9th story of the 5th day: “Then it was that his eye fell on his line falcon sitting on its perch in his little parlour. With nothing else to serve, he picked it up, found it plump enough and decided that this was fare fit for such a lady. Without a second thought he wrung its neck and handed it to his maid to pluck and clean it quickly, put on a pit, and roast to a turn.” It was year 2006, when my family and I went to the Philippines for a vacation. We visited my dad’s “hacienda” (farm), which is located not far from the city, but what a bumpy, dusty, and sweaty ride to reach the secluded place. This visit caught the tenants by surprise. Likened to Federigo’s predicament of not finding a thing to set before his love lady, the tenants without hesitation grabbed his only one egg-hatching hen and decided it to cook for lunch. Filipinos are known for their remarkable hospitality. They will practically do anything to entertain their guest. And I’m proud to be a Filipino.
ReplyDeleteI have no doubt, indeed, Boccaccio’s Decameron, is a masterpiece in story-telling. “The greatness of The Decameron, which influenced not only Italy, but also the whole Europe, lies in the artistic telling of stories rather than in their content” (xxvi). After reading the book’s introduction, author’s foreword, introduction and conclusion for each of the ten days, and the assigned stories, I do have several questions in mind: First, while “The Decameron parallels that of the Hexameron, St. Ambrose’s commentary on the six days of Creation in Genesis” (xx), and the title numerically signifies the ten days of story-telling by ten young people, are there other reasons for the book’s title? Second, interpreting Boccaccio’s seemingly “end of the world” description of a great pestilence for which a medieval reader would interpret as a divine retribution for man’s sins, is he insinuating that The Decameron could be the ten days of a new Genesis? Third, Boccaccio, “a moral and social reformer,” wrote The Decameron “to raise the spirits of women who were down in the dumps” (686), yet in later life, he wouldn’t allow the book in his own household – why?
ReplyDeleteIn II, 4, the character Landolfo Rufolo is plagued by disaster that causes him to lose everything he has, and he just salvages one little trunk from his shipwreck to try to move foreward with hopes for a future of new life. My family has a history of working in Nicaragua, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. My cousin recently visited the dump in Managua, the capital city, in which thousands of families spend their days looking to salvage garbage that they might be able to sell to make a very measly living on. But even in the face of all this hardship, they still have hopes that there will be a better life later on. Now, in the story, Landolfo does find enormous treasure in the chest, but the ability to always press on even in times of misfortune is a lesson that I take to heart every time I hear stories of these brave families in Nicaragua.
ReplyDeleteHey everyone!
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with Lucy that The Decameron started off slowly, which is the part of this work that I disliked the most, but as I kept reading it turned out to be a wonderful literary work. Another part of this story that I disliked was that we never got the chance to really know in depth who the ten characters really were. The only person that we had elaboration on was Dioneo, because he always told the last story which made the others’ mood merrier.
The part of The Decameron that I enjoyed most was the idea that these ten people could decide at this horrible time in history that they needed a vacation! Also, the fact that they took it!! What amazed me even more was that they were able to create their own community for fifteen days and then were able to leave and go back to the death ridden city. Personally, if I had the idea to leave this city that I probably would not have gone back to it.
I am a little confused as to why Boccaccio’s audience seemed to be only directed towards women. Did he think that men would not enjoy these tales as well?
The passage from this book that I find important is, “And the plague gathered strength as it was transmitted from the sick to the healthy through normal intercourse, just as fire catches on to any dry or greasy object placed too close to it. Nor did the trouble stop there: not only did the healthy incur the disease and with it the prevailing mortality by talking to or keeping company with the sick—they had only to touch the clothing or anything else that had come into contact with or been used by the sick and the plague evidently was passed to the one who handled those things.” This passage can be found in the introduction on pages 7-8. I find this passage to be important because it shows just how bad the plague was and how fast it could spread. It shows just how lucky the ten characters of this story were. It also demonstrates how wise it was for them to leave the city and the contamination.
ReplyDeleteThe setting of The Decameron was a very important asset to the story. The first setting, the polluted streets of Florence, Italy, showed just how bad the plague was at this period of time: “Many there were who passed away in the street, by day as by night, while scores of those who died indoors only made their neighbors aware of their decease by the stench of their decaying corpses; the whole city was full of these and others dying all over the place” (12).
ReplyDeleteThen when they left the city, the beautiful setting of the country and mansion showed that there was still beauty in the world: “The sight of this garden, so beautifully laid out, with its plants and the fountain and the watercourse fed by it, so enchanted the ladies and the three young men, they all insisted that, were it possible to build a heaven on earth, they would be at a loss to know how else to embody it but as this garden, nor could they imagine a single thing that might enhance its splendor” (170). I think that it was this beauty gave the ten characters hope for the future.
@MSchaller
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you about the negative light shed on the Church. Throughout the story I was trying to decide if the Church was being portrayed as good or corrupted. Many members of the Church had the outward appearance of holiness, but when you learned more about their situation many were at fault. Such as the Friar’s lies, the abbess’ relations with a priest, and many cases of adultery. Also, when Licisca and Tindaro were having their argument Licisca revealed that there were many scandals that went on in this city; such as no young girl in her town was a virgin! It would appear that even though the people tried to appear holy they did not live their faith virtuously.
In my opinion Boccaccio was not portraying the Church in a negative light to make people turn against it. Instead, he may have been trying to show that at this time people were lax in their beliefs and actions.
@CPoblete
ReplyDeleteI agree with your point on how Boccaccio neglected to develop his characters. I think that the only reason he really even presented the whole frame story with the ten characters was to find a proper medium to present his one hundred diverse stories. Without the frame story, there is nothing to hold them together. At the same time, I am not sure how important characterization would be to this story. All of the characters come from a similar background, and share the same morals.
I think when reading this book, you have to look at it more as a book of short stories than a novel. One of the reasons why I enjoyed this book so much was because it was unlike anything that I had ever read. I do wish Boccaccio had been more descriptive about everything: characters, setting, feelings! I disliked the lack of detail. However, overall, this was an enjoyable book that I believe gave great insight to life in the Middle Ages.
Hello Everyone!
ReplyDeleteI personally enjoyed The Decameron. One of the elements I liked was that over the course of 15 days, ten different short stories were told by ten different narrators each day (Except on Holy Days). I believe that in doing this, the author discreetly enlightens us on the characters' different personalities. I understand that Boccaccio does not go into detail about the characters, but he does give us a slight hint about their personalities by letting each character narrate a different story on the same theme (Most of the time). The characters' names also gave a little insight on their personalities. Although I have talked a bit about characterization, it is not a main part in the story. It is only a framework in which Boccaccio used to tell his short stories at which he excelled in. I loved how he used this framework and that is why I enjoyed it. It was an intelligent way to tell 100 stories while keeping the reader interested.
I agree with others that the story did start out slowly and this did not attract me to the story in the beginning. I do not have many complaints about what I disliked about this story. I think that if we had to read the whole story the general length might have thrown me off a bit. Also, the introductions and conclusions seemed to be a bit repetitive. There was not much of a characterization either which could be seen as a negative but I feel that that leaves us to enjoy the short narratives a lot more. Boccaccio simply “left out the fluff” and got to what he was there to write about.
Did anyone notice the ballads at the end of each story had to do with how that individual was doing with their “Love?” I felt that there was something going on yet in the story it says that all characters remained chaste as they intended to do. I felt that by what some of the ladies were singing their love to someone had gone a little beyond “Loving glances from afar.” It even says this on Page 472 at the end of Philomena’s ballad. We get little hints about the affairs going on between certain characters but it is never revealed what actually happened. Why do you think that Boccaccio included these pieces?
ReplyDelete@MSchaller
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about the author’s letting the reader’s mind wander about the character’s personality. Everyone can have a different interpretation on the characters which does make the book a lot more interesting. The stories the characters tell and names of the characters give us the “Crust” of the pie while our imaginations do the “Filling,” so to speak. It is a wonderful way for the Boccaccio to let his stories touch everyone in their own way. It is quite intelligent!
@Megan R
ReplyDeleteI believe that the group is leaving not due to fear, but due to the fact that there is so much sorrow around them and they are trying to escape it for a while. The reason I say this is because why would they have come back to the city in the end if their leaving was due to fear? They left to clear their minds of the sorrowful times. They do not totally abandon the people in the city but take a break from the woes that they were experiencing. They then come back in the end and it is up to our imaginations to what the characters do when they return. They probably went back to their day to day duties and seeing that they were in church in the beginning, they probably did come back to help those less fortunate.
I believe the same as many others that the setting is the most important aspect to the story. Without the story being placed during the time of the bubonic plague, there would only be a series of stories that do not have a framework that holds them together. The setting of this story is what compels the characters to leave the city and go to the outskirts where their stories are told. The setting also influences some of their stories because these stories are based on the time period that they live in most of the time. The characters of the story had to get away from the misery that oppressed them. A passage that shows this and has been stated by another person is, “Tomorrow, as you know, will be the fifteenth day since we left Florence in search of a little recreation, the better to preserve our health and our lives, turning our backs on all the affliction, the pain and misery that was constantly before our eyes from the first moment the plague first possessed the city” (Page 678). This quote shows how the setting is so important to the framework of the story. The framework holds everything else together and without it The Decameron would be nothing but a bunch of short stories. In my opinion, the framework of the story is what made me keep reading the book. The framework was the “Hook” of the book. :)
ReplyDeleteThe story that I made a connection to is the story about Saladin and Melchizedek (First day, Third story). In this story Saladin tries to trick Melchizedek into saying something that will get him into trouble and will be to his (Saladin’s) benefit. I have to watch how my sisters phrase things when they are asking me something. I laughed to myself when I read this story because on many accounts my sisters have asked my parents to do something and when they say no, they come and ask me. They set the trap and I have to phrase the response in such a way that they can not come back and pin it on me. If I answer incorrectly, I will be punished and my sisters will have done the activity that they wanted to do, just as in the story I have mentioned in The Decameron. Melchizedek had to phrase the response in such a way that Saladin would not get what he wanted and he himself would not get into trouble.
ReplyDeleteA passage in the book which I found important was, “People in the happiest situations will often land themselves in the most dire distress by their own stupidity, as well you know; and similarly, the wise man will use his head to escape from the gravest peril and achieve security for himself" (First Day, Third Story, Page 39). My reaction to this was quite strong. This phrase is quite self-explanatory and is a very strong quote. I think it is important because everyone can take it into mind. We will all go through hard things in life and we must keep our wits about us. In the same respect, we must not be ignorant about things in life. Ignorance “will often land people in the direst distress.” It is advice for the ignorant and keeps the sharp of wit in line. This passage is so true in many ways and can apply to everyone. This is why I have chosen this particular quote. People can also relate many of their personal life stories to this quote and how this quote could help them in a pinch.
ReplyDelete@SMcShea
ReplyDeleteI couldn’t agree more with your observation about Boccaccio’s favorable portrayal of women over men. One the reasons why I think women were portrayed favorably as being smarter, resourceful, more persevering, and superior to men is because this book is primarily dedicated to women unhappy in love. As the dialogue suggests, “Boccaccio…is quick to point out that in passionate predicaments a woman’s chances of relief from suffering are more limited by social pressure than a man’s” (page xxi), he wants to uplift women’s lowly spirits.
@EMorrison, thomasowen, CMea, SMcShea, MSchaller, Megan R
ReplyDeleteI also agree with you all that the only elaborate description was in the introduction and about the gardens and Ladyglen. Vivid descriptions of the garden and Ladyglen transform the place into an ideal setting for story-telling. I also agree that the novellas did give me a better understanding of what Europe was like in those times from different perspectives. Furthermore, I enjoyed most of the stories. One of my favorite stories was the 9th story on the 5th day. This story is about how Federigho degli Alberighi risks everything he has in order to impress the woman of his dream. In the end of the story, it’s the destiny that marries Federigho and Giovanna. Federigho exemplifies true determination on not giving up on what he loves the most. I really admire Federigho. Even though he had almost nothing left, he still gave up his last prized possession.
Hello all!
ReplyDeleteBoccaccio’s Decameron seems to be a book whose purpose is to give us a look into the times of the age the ten storytellers lived around. I think the symbolism in this book is immense and the style of Boccaccio uses in the introductions and conclusions is refined but beyond those passages Boccaccio was simply writing down current tales of his time as if to immortalize them and create a sort of time capsule book. As stated in the translator’s introduction, Boccaccio did not write all of the stories shared by the persons. A lot of stories were adapted from interesting or cautionary tales. That being said we would most definitely not be exposed to these novellas otherwise. This book also exposes us to order and modesty in an immodest time. Pampinea is obviously the alpha in the group, and helps the group escape despair and possibly being exposed to the plague. She creates the mini government of the ten young travelers and presents the framework for all of her successors. However my favorite character was Dioneo. Dioneo was adept at telling stories and always caused the company to feel emotions chosen by him. Usually he would make them laugh uncontrollably, and on occasion he caused them to argue and take heated stands on his tales.
Giovanni Boccaccio fell short in a few places, leaving loose ends and not explaining all that went on throughout the ten days. For instance, even in the beginning of the book, Boccaccio throws us into these seven ladies’ lives, at which point they are deciding what the best course of action for escaping the plague is. They see three young men and decide they should invite them to travel, as they are close with all of them. We do not know the social stature of these young adults, nor do we know how long they want to leave or how they plan to evade the plague on these estates. Are these estates hidden or immune to the plague or do they just not plan on coming in contact with it? As we know there is some framework but I have come to realize the entire decision to elope happened in a ten-minute conversation. I also do not realize the reason Boccaccio decides to tell each story. I could understand the random choosing of the day’s leader from the personal point of view, but as an author why does Boccaccio include these specific hundred stories? This is how I came to the inference that Boccaccio wanted to gather tales under one book to preserve them, if not because he found them interesting. I am also very curious what happened to the ten young travelers once they returned home. Do they survive the plague? Do they remain chaste? Do the men and women in the group who love each other get married?
That being said it seems Boccaccio went through his work and edited as he has an introduction and an afterword. He is self-deprecating and seems to be a romantic who respects women based on his bits throughout the book, which is something that was probably not that common in his day. This is very evident in the intro to day four. Throughout the afterword Boccaccio is making excuses and trying to save face with women, implying he has great respect for them. Notwithstanding in the beginning of the tale it is a woman, Pampinea, who starts, leads, and completely outlines the plan to leave Florence.
All of this being said I really enjoyed reading about the problems of that time’s people. From all of the days, I especially like day seven, which deals with the interesting and often hilarious matter of ‘tricks women play on their husbands, whether in pursuit of their amours or to protect themselves, and whether or not they have been found out.’ These stories were far more interesting than a few of the other days which I found myself trying to push through, such as days two and three which I did not find that interesting. I appreciate the work and style but some days’ stories did not enrapture me like others.
ReplyDeleteI was touched by the first day’s third story, in which Melchizedek is forced to choose the true religion and explain why to the sultan. The sense of doubt Melchizedek probably felt initially was exactly what we sometimes feel whenever we think about our religion, because we have no way of knowing the whole truth. Of course Melchizedek acted on the inkling that the sultan was laying a trap and answered accordingly but I would be curious to see Melchizedek’s thought process if he were to answer this question truthfully to himself without fear of repercussion. Another story that got me thinking was the ninth day’s second story. In this tale an abbess comes to chastise a young nun for fornicating and it is revealed the abbess herself if fornicating, and is caught by the others nuns. This one got me thinking because we all feel temptation, and it is our duty to resist temptation wherever we possibly can. These two people in the story were greatly embarrassed in front of the peers and subordinates, since they had no integrity and gave into sin and temptations of the flesh. Anticlimactically, however, no one is punished for this in the end as the abbess is in charge. These excerpts show that Boccaccio was indeed writing a religious book as inferred by the translator in the introduction.
“…The sides of these paths were virtually hemmed in by bushes of red and white roses and jasmine, so that one could walk along any of them in the delicious fragrant shade and be protected from the sun not only in the morning but even when it was at its zenith…” (Pg 169) This is a sample from the introduction to the third day of the Decameron, describing the new grounds the young travelers came upon. It is about a full page jammed packed with such descriptive details I actually began to imagine I had been there, from the details of the shade of the trees to the leaves on citrus trees explained later on, this passage is the epitome of nature and imagery in a book. That brings me to the next question, which I have to wholeheartedly say is, the literary device chiefly used in the book is imagery. I just can’t get over the detail Boccaccio wrote about in the Decameron, and the marvelous translation to salvage his many nature-appreciating passages. As demonstrated in the short excerpt quote above Boccaccio even goes beyond color and detail but describes the bushes and paths are “virtually hemmed in” by the colorful bushes. Nature must have been one of Boccaccio’s chief passions because he writes detailed and extensive passages throughout the tale.
ReplyDeleteI couldn’t agree more with @OMcHugh and @Lucy S. We learned about 1001 nights last year and it shares the format of the Decameron. It is a collection of stories and even though 1001 nights does this more, they both use stories to teach a lesson. Do you think Boccaccio was influenced by 1001 nights? I know that there are a lot of books out there with this type of format but for some reason I have a hunch Boccaccio at least read 1001 nights. He lived in Tuscany so it is very possible through the Mediterranean and trade that he could have heard of 1001 nights.
Ok guys not a bad start but you need to step it up a bit. some of you took to long to get into the dialog. I applaud some of your insites on this work. Always remember to look at the historical context as well as the plot and characters. Enjoy the next work and post early and often. Ms. M
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWhat a way to spend the week at the beach! The Decameron, written by Giovanni Boccaccio, was personable, refreshing and a welcome escape. The plot, in a few words, is young people escaping for a few days, from the troubles of their lives. This book allows the reader to, fall into the lives of the characters and run away with them. The format of this novel, with the majority of the ten days described written through the fables told by each character, resembles children's stories. Images flood the reader's mind as Boccaccio describes the adventures and the people who embark on them. Beautiful scenery and lively dancing fill the ten days described in the story. The innocence of the book, however, is balanced by the real desperation during the Black Death in Italy. Boccaccio paints a frighteningly realistic picture of Florence, during the plague that gripped Italy in about 1348, and the dead as well as the dying. The seven young ladies and the three young men, the main characters of the book, flee the darkness of the city and leave the pain behind as they run away to try and forget the plague for just a few days. They spend their short time away, by dancing, singing, and telling stories about various topics. At the end of the novel the characters return to Florence in order to face the problems they left behind.
ReplyDeleteThe most important criticism I had, which many others already suggested, was that Boccaccio left the reader guessing at the end of the story and never fully drew the book to a close. The readers are left wondering what happens after the characters return to Florence. Do they survive the plague? Do the characters among the group who love each other, though Boccaccio never fully discloses who these characters are, ever get married? I would have enjoyed the book further if Boccaccio had addressed these questions. However, I appreciated the foreword and the afterward that addressed why the book was written. Boccaccio directly states that he was once in love and eventually lost it. To help others, especially women, who are depressed because of lost love, he wrote this novel to distract them. Perhaps because of Boccaccio's frequent compliments and preference towards womens' ideas over men's, he was the first womens' liberal? I thoroughly enjoyed the directness of his writing as well as the plot.
The setting of the novel, from the despairing beginning during the plague, to the beautiful, colorful setting of the rest of the book, is written with intricate sentences packed with flowing details and vivid images. In the first chapters, the places Boccaccio chose to set his characters were desperate and dark, but he soon contradicted this image with one of a place filled with lush grasses and flowing brooks.
ReplyDeleteThe fear that gripped Florence due to the plague, described in the opening of the book, was so paramount that family members and neighbors left the sick to die alone in fear they might catch the disease themselves. For example he wrote, "One citizen avoided the next, there was scarcely a man who take care of his neighbour, kinsmen would seldom if ever call on each other, and even then would keep their distance - but this was not all: men and women alike were possessed by such a visceral terror of this scourge that a man would desert his own brother, and often a wife her husband. What is more, believe it or not, mothers and fathers would avoid visiting and tending their children, they would virtually disown them."
This scene is in complete contrast to the exquisite places Boccaccio sets his characters in the remainder of the book. For example, the valley where they convene and spend much of the later days of their journey seems to be a piece of Heaven compared to the devastation they left behind in Florence. "The valley-floor was accessible only by the path taken by the ladies, and was thickly planted with firs, cypresses, laurels, and pines which stood in such perfect order and harmony, it was as though a superlative artist had taken a hand in their disposition. Little or no sun penetrated these woods even at noontide; what rays did reach the ground would find a carpet of tenderest grass scattered with violets and other flowers. Another feature that afforded no little pleasure was a stream that cascaded down the living rock through a gully separating two of those hillocks; to hear the water falling was sheer delight, and from a distance it looked like quicksilver forced out in a fine spray."
The setting of the novel provided the reader a deeper understanding of the emotions of the characters.
One of the questions I had was why the characters rested on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, but worked and told stories on Sundays? In the introduction Boccaccio wrote "The seven lady story-tellers are models of reason and responsibility: they persist in religious observance; they have not abandoned their kinfolk; they still care about their reputations. Their age and social class are also calculated to provide an idealistic note, as is their number (seven is the sum of the cardinal and theological virtues, and of the liberal arts)." If they were good Christians wouldn't they have observed the Sabbath more reverently than the two previous days?
ReplyDeleteOne of the most significant lines I found was in the introduction rather than the plot. "The greatest achievement of the Decameron lies elsewhere, in the telling of the stories rather than in their content." (pg xxvi) Although the individual stories were interesting, the true fascination of the book is in the reasons behind why the stories were told. They were told as an escape from the devastation the characters left behind in Florence during the Bubonic Plague. The topics of the tales the kings and queens chose during their reigns, were illustrations of each of their personalities and more fully exposed their characters, which was where the beauty of the novel lies.
ReplyDelete@ Amanda Souto
ReplyDelete"What is the point in forming utopia, if you are still going to weave in stories of the world you left behind? Does anyone else think this proves that though mankind says they want a perfect world with only happiness, they wouldn't be able to refrain from scandal and a good time? Is it still keeping your honor and dignity if you don't actually commit the adultery or blasphemy, but tell stories about others doing it? Either way is it not still on your mind?"
To expand on what you said, I believe the scandalous stories are told for the reader's sake, as well as for the characters, to contrast the pain of the life they left behind with the joy they are experiencing in the garden. In order to fully appreciate utopia, they also must understand and appreciate the pain and mistakes of their past life.
The young characters in the novel briefly escaped from the troubles of their lives to build up strength to face the hurdles once they returned. The Black Death took most of their families' lives and left their homes in chaos. The pain of losing their loved ones and the fear of dying themselves, gave reason for them to leave. The most mature thing however, is they do not run forever. They realize that though the games were pleasurable and the escape was necessary to rebuild their inner strength, they had to return to face reality.
ReplyDeleteEverybody has problems they must face in life. I know I, along with most everyone else, want to run away when the going gets rough. Though my troubles are nothing compared to those described in the book, the concept is the same. My grandfather has Alzheimer's Disease. While I want to remember how he was before, and I may look through photographs or watch old videos for a time, I know I should learn to live in the present and be thankful that I can still call him and hear his voice at all. I may have to repeat everything I say many times for him, but it is worthwhile, because no matter how many times I tell him Rocky Road is my favorite ice cream, it never fails to make him smile. Persevering through adversary is one of the more difficult lessons of my life. When the characters leave the past behind them and go back to rejoin reality, it is a lesson from which I can and need to learn.
Hey!
ReplyDeleteI really loved The Decameron!
I was surprised to see that it turned out to be so funny! It made reading it entertaining and I can see why people in the time of The Plague may have like this book to keep their mind of the horrors of everyone dying. I think that this book was very similar to a TV show today. Each story was entertaining and stood on its own so that you could read different stories like someone can watch different episodes of a TV show.
This book provides the escape many people needed in this time. It was a tale of a journey that these ten people embark on and in this larger story, you find smaller and humerous ones.
@Loren Gant
Like many other people have already said, Boccaccio always left the reader guessing. There is no real closing of the book. As Loren questioned, do they survive The Plague? get married? What happens??I think this ending could have been intended in the way that the readers imagination could finish it for themselves.
I believe that the setting of The Decameron plays an important role in this story and its popularity. The book was written in the horrific time of The Bubonic Plague when the deaths were uncountable and destroyed populations. The setting of this disease in the beginning causes these ten people to have to leave Florence to escape the Plague. The Plague provides a valid reason for the women and men to travel together which in this time was not acceptable.
ReplyDeleteThe rest of the story has beautiful settings which are literally like a fairytale. Boccaccio creates a magical world where the characters as well as the readers can be happy. Boccaccio's writing is beautiful and the way he describes things is true art.
In The Decameron, Boccaccio seems very open-minded to women and Jews. He is not influenced by the normal restrictions of his time. Boccaccio treats the Jew in the First Day, Third story fairly, as he wouold any other character. He creates the Jew, Melchizedek, as smart and cautious whereas other people in that time considered them to be sly and sneaky. Melchizedek says' "And I say unto you
ReplyDeletemy Lord, that the same applies to the three laws which God the Father granted His three peoples, and which formed the subject of your inquiry. Each of them considers itself the legitimate heir to His estate, each believes it possesses His one true law and observes His commandments. But as with the rings, the question as to which of them is right remains in abeyance. (Boccaccio 44)" This shows how clever and insightful Boccaccio wrote Melchizedek to be.
It is also amazing that he has a majority of his main characters as women. I wonder if Bocccaccio was actually as open-minded as he seemed to be in his writing?
In the introduction of The Decameron, there is a passage Boccaccio writes about women seeking help from men when they were sick:
ReplyDelete"As a result of this wholesale desertion of the sick by neighbors, relatives and friends, and in view of the scarcity of servants, there grew up a practice almost never previously heard of, whereby when a woman fell ill, no matter how gracious or beautiful a woman might be, she raised no objection to being attended by a male servant, whether he was young or not. (Boccaccio 9)"
This shows how horrible the times of The Bubonic Plague were that it caused women to be attended to by men rather than other women, which was unheard of at the time. The norms of society were completely changed during this time. This passage helps with Boccaccio's writing of how bad the Plague really was and the extremes it caused people to take. Boccaccio shows interest in the lives and struggles of women throughout this book and in the conclusion when he mentions that he wrote the book for their entertainment and to help them through difficult times.