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This document discusses the role of class and fortune in several stories from Boccaccio's The Decameron. Class plays a significant role, as characters from lower social classes must go through trials in order to earn happy endings, often with the help of noble people. Fortune also helps solve problems and remove barriers for lovers from different social classes. It facilitates unexpected meetings and revelations that allow relationships between people of different status. The stories show life is unpredictable and fortune is one of the only things that can be depended on.

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46 views1 page

Dar

This document discusses the role of class and fortune in several stories from Boccaccio's The Decameron. Class plays a significant role, as characters from lower social classes must go through trials in order to earn happy endings, often with the help of noble people. Fortune also helps solve problems and remove barriers for lovers from different social classes. It facilitates unexpected meetings and revelations that allow relationships between people of different status. The stories show life is unpredictable and fortune is one of the only things that can be depended on.

Uploaded by

Mjhaye
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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5-1to 3

Class plays a significant role in these stories. Cimone's uncouth behavior and appearance mark him
as a man from a lower social class, even if he is not. In the second and third stories, the reader sees
a poor young man and a poor young woman struggle to find a happy ending with their noble lovers.
They must go through a number of trials in order to earn their happy endings, usually with the help of
fortune. In both cases a noble (the king of Tunis and the lady of the castle, respectively) serve to
facilitate the marriages.

5-4
Unlike other stories told on this day and the previous day, this story shows a father who is able to
overcome his initial reaction over his daughter's betrayal, and find a solution that works for all the
parties involved while still maintaining social standing and honor.
5- 5 to 8
Fortune solves many of the problems in these stories. Just as something horrible is about to happen
to the main characters, someone of importance recognizes who they really are, or reveals their
elevated status. In the "Eighth Story" Fortune puts Nastagio in the right place at the right time so he
can see the ghosts that work within the meaning of the tale, and use their plight to convince the
young woman to marry him. In all cases the class disparity that seems to be a stumbling block to the
lovers remaining together is removed through good timing and even better fortune/luck. In an
unpredictable life we lead, Boccaccio shows such events are about all that can be depended on.

5-9

Federigo must learn a lesson before he can win the hand of Giovanna. First, he tries to gain her
favor in the usual ways, which only serves to waste his wealth and leave him practically penniless
while failing to impress the lady. He retreats to his farm with only his falcon as the last remaining
sign of his former financial status.

5-10
Here fortune works in both the wife and the husband's favor. It is interesting to
note Boccaccio doesn't seem to have any issues with homosexuality, which was very liberal for the
time—he presents it as just one more facet of the human sexual experience.

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