The Decameron

The Decameron

by

Giovanni Boccaccio

The Decameron: Day 10: Introduction Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
On the morning of the tenth day, the members of the company amuse themselves under Panfilo’s direction, talking about “the lives they [intend] to lead in the future” until the day becomes too hot. After their customary rest, they begin the day’s tales.
The brigata, for the first time in The Decameron, look towards their lives after they leave the countryside. This is a reminder that their idyll outside of plague-ridden Florence is coming to an end and that they will have to return to their society. But it’s also a hopeful message about the potential for moderation and graciousness to fill the vacuum left by the plague’s horrors, since the lives these youth look forward to extend beyond the current crisis.
Themes
Moderation and Excess Theme Icon