Page 178 - Petru Russo | The 100 Days of Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio

The Provost and the Widow
This novella recounts a witty tale of unrequited love, deception,
and poetic justice. Themes of virtue, cunning, and the pitfalls of
lustful ambition form its foundation.
The rector of Fiesole, infatuated with a beautiful and virtuous
widow, relentlessly pursues her, hoping to win her affection.
However, the widow, uninterested in his advances, decides to
teach him a lesson in humility and propriety.
Feigning interest, she agrees to grant the rector an evening of
intimacy but secretly arranges for her maid to take her place.
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Unaware of the deception, the rector spends the night with the
maid, believing her to be the widow.
The widow’s brothers, aware of the rector’s intentions and
complicit in her plan, orchestrate a surprise visit by the Bishop to
the scene of the indiscretion. The rector, caught red-handed and
humiliated, is exposed for his impropriety and reprimanded.
This tale celebrates the widow’s cleverness and highlights the
importance of integrity while critiquing the hypocritical and
exploitative behavior of those in positions of power.
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