Decameron

Blog Post Decameron

First Story

“It is clear that since earthly things are all transitory and mortal, they are in themselves full of worries, anguish and toil, and are subject to countless dangers which we, who live with them and are part of them, could neither endure nor defend ourselves from if strength and foresight were not granted to us through God’s special grace.” (25)

One hell of a run-on sentence, this quote from the beginning of the First Story lays an outline for the story and entire collection. The Decameron seems to be an exploration of human nature. Specifically in the First Story, the cruel side of human nature. Boccaccio begins by explaining that all things on Earth are mortal, and will eventually die out. This brings about many uncertainties in life about what kind of meaning different people bring to their lives. Boccaccio continues to tell a tale about a man whose cruelness and dishonesty brings happiness to him, as well as the suffering of other individuals. 

Second Day First Story

“Someone who attempts to fool others, especially in those matters worthy of reverence, is himself tricked, often to his own harm.”(73)

This quote sums up the lesson of the tale, and other than it, the rest of the story is more or less an anecdote to the amusement of the Queen and his audience of “dear ladies”. Trickery is not rewarded by laughter or taken lightly when it involves religion. When Martellino disguises himself, and pretends to be cured by the saint, everyone who has come to see the saint begins to viciously beat him. These pious people did not respond well to his actions, and accuse him as a “mocker of God”(75). However, according to the storyteller, it is simply a tale of irony, as the trickster has tricked himself into getting beaten and bruised. 

Second day Second story

“but the story will be especially helpful to those who journey along the uncertain roads of love where those who do not regularly say the Our Father Of St. Julian may very often find a good bed but a bad lodging.”(78)

The storyteller introduces this story as being about the pitfalls of “love”, although being more about lust than anything else. The human instinct of Temptation, particularly sexual, is being explained in this story. Religion also comes into play, as sex was dealt with in a very moral fashion in these times. The phrase “good bed but a bad lodging” holds significance as to the events of the story. Perhaps giving into temptation is satisfying and fun, but it is nothing lasting or a good place to stay.