Page 24 - Petru Russo | The 100 Days of Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio
P. 24
The Monk, The Girl, and The Abbot
This novella from The Decameron intertwines themes of sin, The abbot, intending to make an example of the monk, calls for
hypocrisy, and cleverness. It recounts the story of a monk who him in private. But before the monk can face any repercussions, he
commits a grave indiscretion but skillfully turns the situation to his cleverly exposes the abbot’s own guilt. The monk reveals that he
advantage by exposing the hypocrisy of his superior, the abbot. has seen the abbot himself engaging in the very same sin with the
same girl, thus preempting his punishment by drawing attention to
The tale begins with a monk who succumbs to temptation when the shared fault.
he encounters a young girl. He secretly spends time with her,
indulging in a sin that risks the severest punishment. Unfortunately Realizing his own precarious position, the abbot decides not
for the monk, his indiscretion does not go unnoticed and soon to proceed with punishing the monk. The two reach a silent
reaches the ears of the abbot, who decides to confront him. understanding, agreeing to keep each other’s indiscretions a
secret. In this way, the monk escapes his punishment, thanks to his
quick thinking and keen awareness of his superior’s flaws.
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