Summary
Netflix’s medieval black comedyThe Decameronis based on a classic historical novel.The show follows a group of nobles and servants who isolate themselves in the Italian countryside to wait out the Black Death, or plague. Unlike in the plot of the source material, the group indulges in sex and wine until they begin to scramble for survival. The show and the original book ofThe Decameronare set during the Black Plague, the deadliest pandemic in human history. Also, to keep with the authenticity of the original story and setting,The Decameronwas filmed in Italy.
However, the major similarities between the Netflix show and the source material seem to stop there.Reviews ofThe Decameronclaim the show lacks the same humor and wit as its namesake, instead relying on the outlandish behavior of the characters for humor.The show may only fall short because of its vast source material and historical significance, which has existed for over 500 years.
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Netflix’s The Decameron Is Based On The Book From Giovanni Boccaccio
Boccaccio’s Decameron Is A Collection Of 100 Short Stories
Written by 14th-century Italian author Giovanni Boccaccio,The Decameronis a collection of 100 short stories. The stories are written within the framing device of a group of people telling tales over two weeks while isolated during the plague in Florence, as the characters are in theNetflix show currently streaming. The group of people contains seven women and three men. Each group member tells a story each night for ten of the nights spent in isolation, resulting in the collection.
The Decameronacts as a documentation of life at the time. When not telling the stories, the members of the group do daily activities that are documented. Each day inThe Decameronincludes an introduction and conclusion, emphasizing that these are tales within a larger story. Apart from the orations each night,the framing device of the storytellers frequently includes the lyrics of Italian folk songs, which is a good record of the culture.
The Decameron Was Written During The 14th Century
The Book Was Published Five Years After The End Of The Plague
Boccaccio wroteThe Decameronin the middle of the 14th century, soon after the end of the Black Plague. Florence was affected by the plague in 1348, which inspired Boccaccio’s work and is the date of the Netflix show. The book was completed five years later, in 1353.The publication ofThe Decameronacted as a good release from the tension that had been building in Italysince the plague. The original Decameron was written in Boccaccio’s Florentine language then and wasn’t published in English until 1620.
The Decameronmakes fun of all classes of the period, giving the book a greater appeal. Boccaccio’s stories were inspired by many tales he’d collected from other works. Though he drew from numerous older stories from many different countries, the stories inThe Decameronare still set in 14th-century Italy, making them relevant to the narrators. The morals and motifs he drew from continue to exist in modern storytelling, showing the everlasting nature of the themes.
The Deeper Meaning Of The Decameron Explained
Boccaccio Aimed To Make Fun Of The Church
With 100 stories,The Decameroncontains many plots and themes. Within the book’s structure, each night, the characters are tasked to tell a story that follows a specific theme (tragic love, the power of human will, tricks that women play on men, etc.). Some of the stories are comedic, while others are more tragic.Many of the stories teach about wit and life lessons that the narrators have gainedthrough metaphor. Other recurring themes include mocking the greed of the church, class tensions in Italian society, and female lust in comparison to male ambition.
While many stories inThe Decameronmention the Catholic religion and priests, they are used to lampoon their beliefs and the literary practices of the era.
Boccaccio usedThe Decameronto satirize the Italian tradition of connecting literal events to Christian messages. This practice was prevalent in Dante’sDivine Comedy, which Boccaccio knew. While many stories inThe Decameronmention the Catholic religion and priests, they are used to lampoon their beliefs and the literary practices of the era.Boccaccio also included numerology and mystical significance in his work, trying to create symbolic discourse about deeper meanings in his work, much as one would analyze it for Catholic symbolism. This religious skepticism was a trend following the plague, as many people grew discontent with the church.
The Decameronshow focuses much less on religion and Catholicism than Boccaccio originally did, which arguably reflects the period in which it was made.
Netflix’sThe Decameronis not the first adaptation of the stories.Certain stories from the book have been made into plays and filmsover the many years since its original publication. A notable example is the Shakespeare playAll’s Well That Ends Well,which is based on Tale III, 9 (the ninth story of the third night of isolation.) Many may not realize the expansive literary influence of Boccaccio’sThe Decameron. With the popularity of Netflix’sThe Decameronadaptation, however loose it may be, many more audiences have the opportunity to discover Boccaccio’s original collection of stories.
The Decameron
Cast
In 1348 Italy, a group of nobles and their servants seek refuge in a grand villa from the bubonic plague. As they attempt to wait out the pandemic, their interactions reveal class tensions and personal secrets. The show blends dark comedy with historical drama, examining survival and societal divides in a crisis.
