What are the motifs in Italian Stories = Novelle Italiane by Robert A. Hall?

Italian Literature is a recurring idea. As the three early stories in this collection indicate, Medieval and Renaissance literature in Italy focused almost exclusively on the upper class of Italian society. The characters in Boccacio's story are not exactly aristocrats, but they are painters, a profession which was well-regarded in Italian society and generally could only be practiced by a person who had the financial means to support himself. In "Belfagor," the eponymous character comes to Earth as a wealthy nobleman and his lifestyle is in keeping with his high social status. Gianmatteo, it is true, is a peasant when he is first introduced to the story, but with Belfagor's help, he becomes very wealthy. Madonna Zilia's social status is not clear, but she is probably fairly well off since she is able to support herself without a husband and draws the attention of Monsignor Filiberto who is some kind of minor nobility.