Boccaccio's Decameron: Themes of Love, Wit, and Society

The Donna Gentile and Gender Equality in The Decameron

The donna gentile, the ideal woman celebrated by Dante and Petrarch, is presented in The Decameron as a flesh-and-blood figure, equated to man. Men and women are considered equal regarding values and their right of access to the pleasures of love and life. The conception of love reflects the transitional period in which the work was written. On one hand, it is still very far from the Platonic and spiritual love characteristic of the Renaissance; in most cases, the treatment is carnal. This approach to love and women distinguishes Boccaccio from his predecessors. Now, women are equal to men, having access to the pleasures of life, love, freedom, and adventure. The work features seven women who express their feelings through their stories, showcasing roles that are sharp, clever, brash, and witty.

Key Thematic Concerns

Other important issues in the work include:

• Vitalism: The hundred stories of The Decameron show a multiple reality. The narrative scheme begins with the degradation of society (the Plague) and moves toward an escape to a happier society. The view of death ultimately ends on a more optimistic note.
• Human Intelligence and Wit: Intelligence is a common theme, usually manifesting in the form of wit and cunning. This emphasis on reason as the most characteristic tool of human beings is a key sign of Humanism, placing hope in human capability.
• Critique of the Church: The cultural and spiritual monopoly exercised for centuries by the Christian Church, coupled with its disproportionate accumulation of wealth and power, aroused sharp criticism from thinkers and educated men like Boccaccio. Therefore, it is very common in the text to find lascivious monks, unscrupulous clergy, and nuns who are ambitious despite their Christian precepts.

Technical and Formal Aspects of The Decameron

Narrative Technique

The complex narrative technique of The Decameron is characterized by the interaction of three different narrative levels:

• The Author: Especially in the Introduction and the various introductions and conclusions. On this plane, Boccaccio speaks of himself, addressing the readers (often referred to in narratology as the “ideal reader”). This dialogue, frequently directed toward women, influences the key themes, style, tone, and literary register adopted by the author, who talks directly with his audience.