Embedded Files
Reflecting on Boccaccio's Decameron
Boccaccio’s Decameron demonstrates that narratives shared by the members of brigata have the potential to influence the real-life dynamics of the group, while the emotions of the storyteller can shape the narrative itself. Dioneo is a prime example of a storyteller who imbues his tales with emotion. Queen Filomena acknowledges this talent when she grants him an exemption from providing a themed story. She did not constrict his creativity because “if the company ever got tired of talking on their chosen theme, he could cheer them up with a tale that would make them laugh” (43). How that story is told and the feelings it evokes can change based on the attitude and interpretation of the storyteller and affect the listeners.
There is an inception-like layering of storytelling in Decameron. Boccaccio has created relationships between different parts of his story, and those connections exist within specific frameworks. The individual story is a separate frame, but all fall under the book’s larger narrative. Every frame relates to the one that is above and larger than it. Boccaccio breaks down how those frames exist and how they interact; though each story is its own frame, that frame can still be interrupted or subsumed by the Author’s interjections. The interplay between storytelling frames adds depth through language, culture, and a shared history. These narratives often transport listeners to different imaginary environments, providing comfort, inspiring self-examination, and challenging traditional ideas of reality and imagination within the brigata.
A Tale from the Decameron, by John William Waterhouse, 1916.
A Tale from the Decameron, by John William Waterhouse, 1916.
“When they got there, the company discovered to their great delight that the palace had been swept clean from top to bottom, the beds had been made up in their chambers, every room had been adorned with seasonal flowers, and the floors had been carpeted with rushes.”
“When they got there, the company discovered to their great delight that the palace had been swept clean from top to bottom, the beds had been made up in their chambers, every room had been adorned with seasonal flowers, and the floors had been carpeted with rushes.”
-- Decameron pp15
After deciding to leave the city, the members of the brigata carefully prepared everything and headed towards their destination–a palace in the country. What is intriguing about the members of the brigata leaving the city is their choice of the spaces they go to. They choose a palace with a garden and a fountain, which reveals that they seek a civilized space, likely reminding them of Florence. Running off to a place that reminds them of home indicates that the members attempt to maintain and rebuild their sense of humanity, which has been damaged by their experiences living with a rampant disease. The grand homes they move to represent nostalgia for a life before the plague.
“Even though the words of the little song made some of them ponder its meaning, they all cheerfully joined together in singing the refrains. When they were done, they did a few little dances for a while...”
“Even though the words of the little song made some of them ponder its meaning, they all cheerfully joined together in singing the refrains. When they were done, they did a few little dances for a while...”
-- Decameron pp44
It is interesting to me how the members of the brigata sing and dance happily after dinner when they first arrive at the palace. It appears they have forgotten the reality of the plague, which daily takes hundreds of lives. However, as the reader, I know that they have not, but rather are attempting to move on with their lives despite the devastation. The members of the brigata are trying to separate themselves from reality by moving away from the city to a villa surrounded by nature, where everything is beautiful and peaceful. This suggests they are trying to create a fictional existence inside the palace, rebuilding a small society predicated on a plague-free world.
Above: The Green Room Cafe at UCI. Image Credits: UCI Claire Trevor School of the Arts
Above: A cup of Iced Latte I ordered at the Green Room Cafe.
At UCI, I noticed the Green Room Cafe near the School of Arts as a safe space for me to relax for a short while. It is a small cafe designed with two major colors–green and white–with tables inside and outside the cafe. Whenever I walk inside the cafe, I immediately smell the aroma of coffee beans and baked cookies, which always makes me feel excited, wanting to get a sip of coffee as soon as possible. It is a place that boosts my energy for the rest of my day and provides a break from the rest of the world. I don’t have to worry about my classes, assignments, and exams for a few minutes. The cafe provides me the same comforts and reassurances that the places in the book give the brigata; feelings of comfort, home, and familiarity. I feel relaxed whenever I go inside the cafe and order an iced latte, which helps me regain my motivation and encourages me to continue working hard. The cafe brings me the same kind of ischemia and civilization as the book.
Above: Study area on the second floor of the Science Library. Image Credits: lib.uci.edu
Above: Study area on the second floor of the Science Library. Image Credits: lib.uci.edu
Another space that I noticed as a space where I can find an escape is the study area on the second floor of the Science Library. While studying there, I can also hang out with my friends, gossiping and playing board games. That study area is a liminal space because it offers me a reprieve between being a student and a young adult. This liminal space is important to me because it is transitional and serves a much-needed purpose in my life. Being a student means attending class and studying; being a young adult means spending time with friends and socializing. And this space can act as both. The study area holds great value to me because it can help me progress in my academics and offer me a place to spend time with people who understand what I am going through as a college student. This is similar to the characters in the book who run away from the plague, understanding each other because they are all plague survivors. They know the fears and the tragedy of life in the city. They have all experienced death, which binds them together as a group. The study area is meaningful to me because of who I share it with and its role–being a study room or a place where I can bond with my peers. Both are good uses of my student and young adult time.
Above: Arroyo, Mesa Court Classic Hall. Image Credits: uciunfiltered.com
Above: Arroyo, Mesa Court Classic Hall. Image Credits: uciunfiltered.com
While I have found spaces on campus that are retreats, my dorm is a liminal space essential to me. Located in Arroyo Hall in Mesa Court is a small but safe space awash with my favorite colors (pink, white, and grey), my favorite singer’s poster and albums, a green plant, snacks from H-mart and 99 Ranch Market, and my comfortable bed.
Because I live in Irvine, I thought living in a dorm was unnecessary. However, moving away from home helped me realize the benefits of living independently–having more personal space and making decisions alone. It turns out that living in a dorm makes going to classes more convenient and helps build stronger bonds with other students by spending more time on campus. The dorms are another liminal space that greatly benefits my college experience as I transition from living at home to being a self-sufficient adult.
Work Cited:
Boccaccio, G. (2016). The Decameron: A New Translation, Contexts, Criticism. Norton Critical Editions.
“A Tale from the Decameron, by John William Waterhouse, 1916.” A Tale from the Decameron, by John William Waterhouse, 1916 | The Core Curriculum, www.college.columbia.edu/core/content/tale-decameron-john-william-waterhouse-1916. Accessed 12 Nov. 2023.
“The Green Room Cafe.” UCI Claire Trevor School of the Arts, www.arts.uci.edu/venue/green-room-cafe. Accessed 12 Nov. 2023.
“Study Space Locator.” UCI Libraries Mobile Site, www.lib.uci.edu/study-space-locator. Accessed 12 Nov. 2023.
Joyce. “Your Go-to Guide for UCI’s Housing Options.” Unfiltered Life at UCI, Unfiltered Life at UCI, 2 Nov. 2020, www.uciunfiltered.com/home/2018/11/16/housing-options-at-uci.
Page updated
Report abuse