The Decameron: Day One, stories 1-4

The first quote I am choosing is from the first story, of the first day. “…we can recognize the greatness of God’s mercy toward us, which pays more attention to the purity of our faith than to our errors by granting our prayers in spite of that fact that we choose to live by His enemy…”
This quote has a larger meaning in all of the stories that I read. Although these characters choose to act with sin, they believe that in the end they will be forgiven- so who cares? First there was Ser Ciappelletto who was the manifestation of a true sinner. He never gives any regard to religion, and dies lying to a priest/ God in order to give his caretakers convenience, rather than shame, in helping him. Ciappelletto is painted as a very gregarious person despite his reputation. He is not particularly malice, as he simply enjoys his lifestyle and choices. This quote was at the end of the story. It implies that although Ciappelletto dies a man of sin, in God’s eyes he could not be perceived as solely evil. On a larger scale, this quote sheds a larger insight into the other characters I have read. Though Abraham chooses a religion based on the fact that he can ‘get away with more sin’ he is not a bad person. Saladin’s cunning wits did not initially get him the money that he desired, but with respect for his friend “the Jew” he repaid him with more than he ever borrowed in the first place. His sly motives came back to teach him a lesson, and rather than suffer from his sin, he grows from it. The monks who go against their faith with lust are not bad men either. Thus, although all of the characters seemed to be weighed down by religion, they are not restrained by it. Similarly, it does not make them unrecoverable or unable to be forgiven for this. Perhaps more than just these characters are going to have this modern view of faith.

The second quote I am choosing if from the third story, of the first day. It is a dialogue of what Saladin is saying to ‘the Jew’ after he realizes his trick did not work. “And let me say the same thing to you, my lord, concerning the three laws given to the three peoples by God our father which are subject of the question you put to me: each believes itself to be the true heir, to posses the true law, and to follow the true commandments, but whoever is right, just as in the case of the rings, is still undecided.”
Saladin asks the Jew essentially what religion is better (Christianity, Judaism, or the Saracen), in order to start a fight and get the money he is after. The Jew knew that he was being fooled, but also that not one has a higher hand than the other. Throughout history, it is speculated that religion has been the cause of almost every war. Saladin knows there is not right answer to his question, a gives in. The Jew was wise enough to know that even if he chooses one religion over another, there is no possible way his argument wouldn’t be proved wrong. His story about the rings shows his understanding of this. On a larger scale, this way of thinking benefited both men in the end. It should not be applied to just religion, but equally men’s opinion and lifestyle in general.

The third quote I am choosing is from the fourth story, of the first day, and it is the last couple of lines: “…he was ashamed of inflicting upon the monk the same punishment that he himself deserved. And so he pardoned him and made him promise never to reveal what he had seen. They quickly got the young girl out of the monastery, and as one might well imagine, they often had brought her back again.”
It is interesting that at one point the Abbot is willing to punish the monk for the same sin he commits himself. It is only after he realizes that they share a mutual understanding of each other’s actions, that he pardons everything. It is clear that the Abbot is willing to abuse his power and position as long as he is not ‘discovered.’ This does not portray a typical holy figure of the church. Though both the Abbot and the monk are supposed to be sin-less for both God and THEIR OWN good, it is clear they want to get away with as much sin as they can- just like anyone else. It brings both of them to a equal level as someone outside the church. Similarly, the two’s understanding of each other allows them both to commit the same sin repeatedly (as it is implied). Almost like “I’m in it, if you’re in it.” The two use their positions to hide what they are doing, and make them all none the wiser. It is the appearance verses the reality of the situation that brings about the integrity of everyman. Not everything is what is seems, with nothing spared along the way.