Introduction When you think of medieval literature, you might picture knights, plagues, or endless sermons. But Giovanni Boccaccio’s The Decameron flips that expectation. It’s witty, bold, and often surprisingly modern. One story that really stood out to me was the tale of Madonna Filippa from Day 6, Story 7. In this post, I’ll break down how she used her intelligence and...

Introduction: Giovanni Boccaccio’s The Decameron explores the many faces of love—from the comic to the catastrophic. Nowhere is the tragedy of unfulfilled love more piercing than in Day 4, Tale 8, the story of Girolamo and Salvestra. Told under the theme of lovers who meet unhappy ends, this tale delivers a heartbreak not from betrayal or malice, but from the quiet cruelty of...

This powerful illustration, "Capitalism" by Pawel Kuczynski, critiques how society sometimes prioritizes material loss over human life. Notice how the people in the image are all focused on a spilled blue liquid, showing concern or interest. Yet, right beside them, a person lies dead or injured, completely ignored. The artist is suggesting that in a world driven by economic values (capitalism),...

INTRODUCTION Giovanni Boccaccio’s The Decameron brims with tales of love, wit, and moral insight. Among its most poignant is Federigo’s Falcon (Day 5, Story 8), a narrative that explores the themes of generosity, sacrifice, and the redemptive power of true affection. In this review, I contend that Federigo’s ultimate act of selflessness not only redeems his past follies but...

Title:Love, Loss, and a Falcon’s Fate: The Noble Heart of Federigo Introduction:In Giovanni Boccaccio’s The Decameron, “Federigo and His Falcon” tells the story of a nobleman whose love and dignity lead him to a heartbreaking act of sacrifice. This tale, told on the ninth story of the fifth day, explores the themes of unrequited love, generosity, and moral irony. It...