The Decameron

1. Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375) The Decameron

2. The Plague of 1348: Natural Evil Descends Upon Man • Theodicy is affirmed • “…because of God’s just wrath as punishment to mortals for our wicked deeds, and it killed an infinite amount of people.” (1144) • Morality is threatened • “…there came about such fear and such fantastic notions among those who remained alive that almost all of them took a very cruel attitude in the matter….” (1145)

3. Divine Justice is Questioned • “For everyone felt that he was doomed to die, and as a result, abandoned his property…” (1146) • “…and they went at least as far away as the Florentine countryside—as if the wrath of God could not pursue them….” (1146)

4. The Wheel of Fortune Turns • “O, how many great palaces, beautiful homes, an noble dwellings, once filled with families, gentlemen, and ladies, were now emptied, down to the last servant! How many noble families, vast domains, and famous fortunes remained without legitimate heir.” (1149)

5. The Response to the Problem of Theodicy: Practical Reason • Pampinea: “…a proper use of reason does harm to no one. It is only natural for everyone born on this earth to aid, preserve, and defend his own life to the best of his ability.” (1150) • “Let us avoid death…and live in a more dignified fashion…and let us take what enjoyment, what happiness, and what pleasure we can, without going beyond the rules of reason in any way.” (1151)

6. Carpe Diem: Practical Reason Applied to Theodicy • “…I think it would be well to take our servants, have all our necessary things sent after us, and go from one place one day to another the next, enjoying what happiness nd merriment these times permit; let us live in this manner…until we see what ending Heaven has reserved for these horrible times.” (1151)

7. A Problem: Women’s Reason Incomplete Without Men • Filomena: “…women do not know how to reason in a group when they are without the guidance of some man who knows how to control them.” (1152) • Elissa: “Men are truly the leaders of women, and without their guidance, our actions rarely end successfully.” (1152)

8. The Wheel of Fortune Turns: Men Appear to Affirm Theodicy • Neifile: “See how Fortune favors our plans and has provided us with these discreet and virtuous young men, who would gladly be our guides and servants if we do not hesitate to accept them for such service.” (1152) • “God and Truth will take up arms in my defense…. [W]e could truly say that Fortune was favorable to our departure.” (1153)

9. Balance is Achieved: 7:3 • Dioneo: “Ladies, more than our preparations, it was your intelligence that guided us here.” (1153) • But when things are not organized they cannot long endure….(1154)

10. Ruler for a Day: Practical Reason = Humanism • Pampinea: We are “…to live in order and in pleasure, and without any shame….” (1154) • And “…bring us back nothing but pleasant news.” • “…you will each have told a little story….”

11. Fourth Day, Second Tale: Divine Justice is Affirmed • Brother Alberto: Evil is initially rewarded • “Never before had such a thief, pimp, forger, and murderer become so great a preacher without having abandoned these vices, even though he may have been practicing them in secret.” • Corrupted pride prompts him to seduce the naïve and innocent Lisetta. • The lack of practical reason leads Lisetta down the path of moral compromise.

12. The Wheel of Fortune Turns: Theodicy is Affirmed • “Thus a man who was thought to be good and who acted evilly not recognized for what he really was, dared to turn himself into the angel Gabriel and instead was turned into a wild man, and, finally, was cursed at as he deserved and made to lament in vain for the sins he had committed. May it please God that the same thing happen to all others like him!” (1161)

13. Fifth Day, Ninth Tale:Providence Rewards the Good • Federigo falls in love with Monna Giovanna, and goes broke trying to earn her love with jousts, feasts, and tournaments. • He retreats to the simple country life in poverty. • She marries but inherits her husband’s wealth and retires to the country with her son. • Coincidentally, Fortune places her near Federigo’s farm.

14. The Moral Dilemma: Serve Her son or the Love of Federigo • Monna Giovanna asks to have dinner with Federigo, in the hope that he will give her the falcon for her son. • As he has no food, Federigo serves her the falcon for dinner. • She asks him for the falcon. • He cries.

15. The Wheel of Fortune Turns • “My lady, ever since it pleased God for me to place my love in you, I have felt Fortune has been hostile to me in many things….” • “…and Fortune worked to make it impossible for me to give it [the falcon] to you.” • “She thanked Federigo both for the honor paid to her and for his good will….” • Providence intervenes: her son dies.

16. Enter Practical Reason to Create Balance • After a period of mourning, Monna Giovanna decides to marry Federigo. • “I would rather have a man who needs money than money that needs a man.” • “When he found himself to be the husband of such a great lady, …he managed his financial affairs with more prudence than in the past, and lived with her happily the rest of his days.”