Deception

Deception is a major theme that runs through most of the stories in The Decameron. Deception almost always takes place to benefit the deceiver and although the schemes are often ridiculous and quite funny, they always seem to work. One has to wonder if the ones being deceived are really as simple as portrayed or are so naïve and trusting that they will believe anything that seems even remotely possible. The stories are surely embellished to make them more like fables, however, there are characters in the book that are real and lived in Italy during the 13th and 14th centuries.

The most brilliant examples of deception regard Brother Alberto and Saint Ciappelletto. Both men begin life as wicked and arrogant thieves who delight in taking advantage of others. Brother Alberto sees an opportunity to disguise his misdeeds when he travels to Venice and ends up serving...