The Story of Griselda

from The Decameron

by Giovanni Boccaccio

Summary
&
Historicism
J. Samonte (2016)
johnsamonte128@gmail.com

Summary: The Story of Griselda by Giovanni Boccaccio

Gualtieri, the Marquis of Saluzzo, spent so much time at hunting and other sports that he
gave no thought about marrying and establishing a family. His friends and subjects, fearing that
old age would overtake him before he acquired an heir, pressured him to take a wife. Finally,
more to silence his critics than to satisfy any desire that he might have for matrimony, he
resolved to court a beautiful, but poor young woman from a neighboring village. Her family's
low station in life would spite those who had so urgently insisted that he marry, and her beauty,
he thought, would make living with her at least bearable.
Gualtieri informed Griselda -- that was the young woman's name -- of his intention to
marry her, and asked her if she would accept him as a husband, to love, honor, and obey, for
better or for worse, and never criticize him nor question his authority. She readily agreed, and
their wedding was celebrated forthwith.
Griselda appeared to be a worthy addition to Gualtieri's noble household, but the marquis,
unsure of the depth of her character, decided to test her loyalty and her patience. Thus, soon after
the birth of their first child -- it was a beautiful girl -- he informed her that his subjects were
unhappy with the child and that it was to be put to death. Without hesitation she acceded to her
husband's demands and surrendered the child. However, instead of killing the baby girl, Gualtieri
had her spirited away and tended in a secret place.
Sometime later Griselda gave birth to a son, and her husband, intent on carrying his test
still further, berated her and insisted that her child be put to death. She again yielded to his
demands without complaint, and as before, he took the child to a secret place where he was well
cared for.
Still unsatisfied, Gualtieri devised a final test. He publicly denounced Griselda, claiming
that the pope had granted him dispensation to divorce her and to take a more deserving wife.
Griselda, wearing only a shift, was sent back to her father. All these indignities she bore without
complaint. As the day approached when Gualtieri, as it was supposed, was to take a new bride,
he asked Griselda to return to his palace, for no one knew better how to prepare for guests than
did she. Griselda returned to her former residence, now as a cleaning woman and servant, to
make preparations for her former husband's wedding.
J. Samonte (2016)
johnsamonte128@gmail.com

Gualtieri had his and Griselda's daughter, who was now twelve years old, dressed in
bridal clothes, and he presented her to Griselda, who could not have known that this was her own
child. "What do you think of my new bride?" he asked. Griselda replied without guile, "If her
wisdom matches her beauty, then the two of you will be very happy together."
At last recognizing Griselda's sincerity, faithfulness, and patience, Gualtieri revealed to
her the trials that he had devised to test her loyalty. With tears of joy, she received her children
and once again assumed her position as Gualtieri's ever patient and obedient wife.

J. Samonte (2016)
johnsamonte128@gmail.com

Historicism: The Story of Griselda by Giovanni Boccaccio

Loyalty and devotion lead to bravery. Bravery leads to the spirit of self-sacrifice. The
spirit of self-sacrifice creates trust in the power of love. Love includes passion, sacrifice,
selflessness, weakness, selfishness, and foolishness. When love is not madness it is not love.
The Story of Griselda is about a husband testing his wife. Its a test of female obedience
and patience wherein the story itself expresses the most significant plot on how women can be
treated as manipulating objects in order to overcome and unfold their true nature. Griselda
possessed several characteristics of being a woman which include her indigenous pride and her
gracious words. Griselda has become the wife of Gualtieri, when they successfully got married,
he requested her to obey all of his command no matter how difficult the circumstances he had
given to her. This illustrates a scenario wherein a woman, fully aware that she has accepted
herself as his wife, shall agree with him in all of his conditions. Griselda's wisdom has proven to
him in all of his motives, the abduction of their children, rejecting her as his wife, and the
wedding of his new bride. Despite all of the troubles that she has faced after a series of trials, she
succeeded because she has determined to prove herself as the most wise, patient woman. Though
he kept planning to melt the heart of Griselda and rejecting her own desires, he still pleads to
love her as it was the only way to appreciate his wife. As a result, they both forgive themselves in
the end. True love can only be obtained if they absolutely accept themselves.
It was really cruel. A man having the power to control his beloved wife, and he wants to
see how long his wife and tolerate and endure his challenges. He wants to see if his wife will stay
true to her words that shell love, honor and obey him and will never criticize or question
anything he says. Even, she was not treated the way a wife should be treated by her partner. It
highlighted how tough a woman is inside and out. They are facing challenges but never gave up.
They will do everything they can for their love ones. During Renaissance period, the rights of
women were limited and women's purpose was to serve his husband, produce a child for her
husband, and women were treated as properties that was owned by their husbands, that makes
sense in the story and relevant to the period. The values of women before dont exist anymore,
because today women are given more importance, independence and laws are passed to protect
their rights. Nowadays, there's apparent gender equality. In fact women can do what men can.

J. Samonte (2016)
johnsamonte128@gmail.com