Paper Summary:

In the world of medieval literature, Giovanni Boccaccio is renowned for his timeless contributions in the form of "Decameron," also translated as "Ten Day's Work." This literary piece by Boccaccio chronicles the short stories and narratives of ten people who sought refuge from the city that is being affected with the Black Plague. In "Decameron", two main themes are prevalent among the stories narrated by the ten young people assembled outside the city during the Black Plague. These themes are the criticism of the Catholic Church and the Christian religion and the 'idealization' of women, illustrated through Boccaccio's portrayal of women in his narratives. These two themes are discussed and analyzed in the paper, in relation to specific passages extracted from "Decameron". These passages are related in accordance to the social, political and religious landscape of European society during Boccaccio's time in order to understand fully the message implicated behind the stories Boccaccio's main characters narrate.

Outline:
I. Introduction to Giovanni Boccaccio's Life and Society
II. Socio- Historical Context of "Decameron": Main Themes
A. Criticism of the Catholic Church
B. Idealization of Women
III. Conclusion: "Decameron"as a Social Criticism of the 13th and 14th Centuries

From the Paper:

"Interestingly, Chappelet's character represents the dual character of the Church, an institution respected and feared by the society because of its great hold and political power in European society during the Middle Ages. While the Church is demonstrated as a holy and religious institution as personified by "Saint" Chappelet, the Church is also criticized for its harsh treatment of non-conformers and rigid rules imposed upon the society, which is a characteristic evident in Boccaccio's portrayal of Chappelet. The severe and rigid treatment of the Church to European society during the Middle Ages is best explained by Giulio Ferroni (1991), who described the religious and social landscape during the 13th and 14th centuries in Europe..."

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