It is significant that the main character of the story’s name means chapel, because we are led to dislike this character. By emphasizing the purity of God and inevitable inaccuracy of mankind, Boccaccio preps the reader to pay attention to how one’s own humanity in a religious context can lead to deceit or wrongdoing.įollowing this preface, Panfilo begins his story with a man called Ciappelletto, which means little chapel, although his name was really Cepparello which refers to a log (70). Leading into his story, Panfilo says that all of God’s virtues “can clearly be seen in the tale I propose to relate and I say clearly because it is concerned not with the judgement of God but with that of men” (69). Panfilo continues, emphasizing that God’s omniscience regardless of the motives of the supplicant or ignorance of intercessor. This not only underscores the character’s trust in God, but also prepares the reader to expect a great deal of trickery to occur throughout the book to which humans are susceptible.
This phrase is crucial, as it sets up early on in the narrative of both the story and the book as a whole God’s inability to be tricked or deceived. He goes on for another page or so, describing the grace and good deeds of his god, describing him as “He from whom nothing is hidden” (69). Before embarking on his story, Panfilo spends a considerable amount of time talking about God, saying “everything done by man should begin with the sacred and admirable name of Him that was the maker of all things” (Boccaccio 68). The queen of the day, Pampinea, elects Panfilo to begin with one of his stories, allowing him to speak on whichever topic he prefers. In The Decameron, after the group of travelers have gotten settled as they flee the plague that has infected Florence, they begin to tell stories. This theme that religion causes susceptibility to delusion can be best seen in key stories of the Decameron: the story about Saint Ciappelletto and the story about Friar Alberto. Through the secular lens of Boccaccio, it is clear to see that this reflex sets people up for deceit. When it came to religion, people especially in the time which Boccaccio wrote, had the reflex to believe rather than refute. This an idea the Boccaccio explores, tests, and violates his book, The Decameron, influenced by literature’s movement towards secular realism. One must trust their religious institutions, the word of those with religious authority, or the experiences of those deemed to be trustworthy.
Rather, one must believe regardless of shaky or nonexistent evidence. Faith is predicated upon the notion that there may never be undeniable proof about a certain religious figure or idea. By definition, if one is religious, they must trust and take a leap of faith to come to a conclusion about their gods, spirits, or idols. The word “faith” in reference to religion emphasizes the uncertain nature of religion.
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