The Decameron

The Decameron

by

Giovanni Boccaccio

Madame Lamiens Character Analysis

Madame Lamiens appears in Elissa’s second tale (II, 8), where she is the wife of one of the English King’s Marshals. She and Marshal Lamiens raise Jeannette (Violante) in their home. She’s very class-conscious, and when she learns that her son Jacques Lamiens loves Jeannette, she’s more willing for them to have an illicit sexual relationship than an honorable marriage. However, she eventually allows the marriage in order to save her son’s life.
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Madame Lamiens Character Timeline in The Decameron

The timeline below shows where the character Madame Lamiens appears in The Decameron. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Day 2: Eighth Tale
Class and Character Theme Icon
...older son. Eventually, the wife of one of the English king’s marshals (later named as Madame Lamiens ) takes pretty and sweet Jeannette into her home. She promises to raise her well... (full context)
Love and Sex Theme Icon
Moderation and Excess Theme Icon
Class and Character Theme Icon
Years pass, and Madame Lamiens begins to think of finding a husband for Jeannette. Fortunately, God has a plan to... (full context)
Love and Sex Theme Icon
Men and Women Theme Icon
Class and Character Theme Icon
...the cause of his illness, but they’re disturbed by his love for a supposed commoner. Madame Lamiens tells Jacques that she knows why he is sick and that she’s willing to help... (full context)
Love and Sex Theme Icon
Class and Character Theme Icon
Madame Lamiens , although impressed by Jeannette’s morals, is frustrated. She suggests locking Jeannette in Jacques’s room... (full context)