Netflix's The Decameron Draws From Giovanni Boccaccio's Classic 14th-century Work

Published by bbc.co.uk:

The New Netflix Series "The Decameron" Borrowers from Boccaccio's Classic Work A recent Netflix comedy series, "The Decameron," has drawn inspiration from Giovanni Boccaccio's 14th-century Italian novel, "The Decameron." The show takes place in a villa, where a group of aristocrats wait out the plague, a scenario often repeated in Boccaccio's work. Boccaccio introduced his masterpiece by stating, "My plan is to recount one hundred stories, or fables, or parables, or histories, or whatever you wish to call them.

They were told over 10 days, as will be seen, by an honourable company made up of seven ladies and three young men who came together during the time of the recent plague" (Boccaccio, 1351). Kathleen Jordan, the creator of "The Decameron," sought to explore the growing chasm between the haves and have-nots during times of crisis, drawing parallels with the current pandemic.

However... she also delves into the potential for social realignment, even in the midst of chaos, where rules and hierarchies are loosened. In Boccaccio's Florence, the loosening of social norms allowed for unexpected relationships to develop, such as servants posing as mistresses and nobles being cast into servitude.

The Netflix series deviates from the original "Decameron" by omitting the numerous short tales that comprise the heart of Boccaccio's work. Boccaccio's introduction reveals that his book consists of 100 interconnected stories, each told by a member of the group during their gatherings... which are framed by the narrative of the aristocrats sharing their time at leisure.

Each day, one group member takes on the role of King or Queen, who can introduce a theme for the day's storytelling, such as disastrous relationships or wives playing tricks on their husbands. As stated on BBC. co. uk, the interplay of Boccaccio's "Decameron" lies in its multiple layers, including the group's dynamic interactions, the reactions of the listeners, and the multiple levels of narrative.

^^, "The Decameron" on Netflix is inspired by Boccaccio's classic work, but simplifies the complex narrative structure, "disregarding the numerous short tales that characterize the original." The series explores the chasm between the haves and have-nots, "but also touches on the potential for social realignment during times of crisis," echoing some of ← →

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New show The Decameron borrows the premise from Boccaccio of a group of Italian aristocrats waiting out the plague in a villa (Credit: Netflix) We'll come back to the ribaldry in a moment, but The Decameron has far more to recommend it than just its dirty stories. Here is how Boccaccio introduces his greatest work: "My plan is to recount one hundred stories, or fables, or parables, or histories, or whatever you wish to call them. They were told over 10 days, as will be seen, by an honourable company made up of seven ladies and three young men who came together during the time of the recent plague."