The Decameron (Day Four / 5.8, 5.9, 5.10, 6.7, 6.10)

5.8 This story starts off by playing off of the power that women hold over men. As the story continues on though it is apparent that in this story the men hold the true power over the woman. When Nastagio goes to Chiassi he sees Messer Guido degli Anastagi trying to kill this naked innocent woman whom he had fallen deeply in love with like Nastagio had for the Traversari girl. She was condemned to pain and suffering for as many time that she had caused Messer pain each time she denied him love. Messer had eventually killed himself for her love, but instead of getting love at his death she was joyous, and happy so when she died and was condemned to hell she was to feel the pain he felt. Messer would have to cut her in half, rip out her heart and feed it to the dogs, and then she would come back alive and the chase would begin all over again. Nastagio saw this to his advantage in trying to win the Traversari girl whom hated him, so when he invited her and others to dinner he made sure that they would witness this act. After seeing this and hearing Messer’s story the Traversari girl had a change of heart because she didn’t want to be condemned in death for something she did in life so she married Nastagio. This eventually helped all men: “Nor was this the only good that came from this terrible apparition, for all the ladies of Ravenna became so frightened that from then on they became a good deal more amenable to men’s pleasure than they ever had been in the past” (425). Women had become easier to woo, for they feared the pain they would feel later which gave the men more empowerment because at this point women were afraid to deny their love to a man.

5.9
“…I would much rather have a man who lacks money than money that lacks a man” (431). Monna Giovanna was saying that she would rather have someone who will give his last valuable possession for her than a man who has money but is still a boy, and childish and his manners. Federigo had shown that he was a true man; he had given up his falcon which was his most valuable possession in order to feed her, and then when he couldn’t give it to her he cried because he was unable to give her what she asked of him.  “a man who lacks money”  is someone who doesn’t have money but what he values the most he will give to make you happy and to make sure your needs are meant, and ‘money that lacks a man” is some who is going to be with you, but not cherish you or value you as much as their possessions. Monna Giovanna didn’t have to worry about whether Federigo loved her or not because he loved her when he was rich and he loved her when he was poor, and he being poor didn’t stop him from showering her with gifts only this time is wasn’t a luxuries gift, but it was his bird, which was his pride.