Zusammenfassung
Written in the 14th century, The Decameron is a landmark of Italian literature and a vivid snapshot of life during the Black Death.
The work is framed around a group of ten young people—seven women and three men—who flee plague-ridden Florence to a countryside villa. To pass the time during their ten-day retreat, they each tell one story per day, resulting in a total of 100 tales.
The stories range widely in tone and topic—from romantic and tragic to comedic and risqué.
They explore themes of love, lust, wit, fortune, virtue, and vice, often poking fun at corrupt clergy and societal hypocrisy.
Despite the dark backdrop of the plague, the tales celebrate human resilience, intelligence, and desire.
The Decameron is notable for its rich characterizations, social commentary, and influence on later literature (including Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales).