Bruno Character Analysis in The Decameron

Bruno appears in five of The Decameron’s tales told by Elissa (VIII, 3), Filomena (VIII, 6), Lauretta (VIII, 9), Filostrato (IX, 3), and Fiammetta (IX, 5). Unlike his friends, Buffalmacco and Calandrino, he doesn’t appear to have a historical antecedent. In the tales, he is trickster who delights in playing pranks on the unintelligent and gullible, and he lives in fine style by fleecing others out of their hospitality and money.

Bruno Quotes in The Decameron

The The Decameron quotes below are all either spoken by Bruno or refer to Bruno. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Calandrino is a mean sort of fellow, who’s very fond of drinking when other people pay. So let’s go and take him to the tavern, where the priest can pretend to play the host to the rest of us and pay for all the drinks. When he sees that he has nothing to pay, Calandrino will drink himself into a stupor, and then the rest will be plain sailing because there’s no one else staying at the house.

Everything turned out as Bruno had predicted. When Calandrino saw that the priest would not allow him to pay, he began to drink like a fish, and quaffed a great deal more than he needed to make him drunk.

Related Characters: Bruno (speaker), Filomena, Calandrino, Buffalmacco

Page Number and Citation: 580

Explanation and Analysis:

Bruno Character Timeline in The Decameron

The timeline below shows where the character Bruno appears in The Decameron. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...its protagonist Calandrino, a Florentine painter and “simple, unconventional sort of fellow.” His friends include Bruno and Buffalmacco, other Florentine painters who are as “shrewd” and quick-witted as he is simple. (full context)

...can be found near Florence. Calandrino searches all over the city to tell Buffalmacco and Bruno about the heliotropes, remembering hours later that they’re painting a nunnery. Finding them there, he... (full context)

The delay gives Bruno and Buffalmacco enough time to plan their own prank. On Sunday morning, they go with... (full context)

...can see him, he cries that she “ruined everything” and begins to mercilessly beat her. Bruno and Buffalmacco arrive shortly afterward to find Tessa cowering in the corner of a room... (full context)

Calandrino jumps up to resume beating Tessa, but Bruno and Buffalmacco restrain him. They say it’s his own fault for not telling her to... (full context)

Filomena’s tale, inspired by Elissa’s, also concerns Calandrino, Bruno, and Buffalmacco. A small country farm made up part of the dowry of Calandrino’s wife... (full context)

...plans to have the pig salted, then bring it back to his family in Florence. Bruno suggests that they should instead sell it and use the money to party, then tell... (full context)

...very drunk, forgetting to close the door when he stumbles home. This allows Buffalmacco and Bruno to walk in and take the pig. Calandrino is upset to discover the theft in... (full context)

Calandrino gives Bruno money for the supplies. In Florence, he buys a pound of regular ginger candies from... (full context)

The next morning, Bruno and Buffalmacco bring the wine and candies to Calandrino and his neighbors. Explaining that Calandrino’s... (full context)

As Bruno hands out the sweets, he gives the marked dog ginger one to Calandrino, who immediately... (full context)

Calandrino protests his innocence to his companions, but Bruno claims that he’s heard that Calandrino has a country mistress to whom he sent the... (full context)

...great deal of curiosity about his neighbors and is always asking questions about everyone, especially Bruno and Buffalmacco. (full context)

Noting that Bruno and Buffalmacco are always happy and carefree, despite being poor painters, Simone da Villa concludes... (full context)

Simone da Villa begs to know what “going the course” means. Bruno is reluctant to share the secret for fear of being punished. But he so respects... (full context)

...with society members in splendid beds after dinner. Buffalmacco prefers the Queen of France, while Bruno likes the Queen of England. These rich ladies are happy to give the painters a... (full context)

...and he wants to join the secret society himself. But he decides to first curry Bruno’s favor with more hospitality. He invites Bruno for breakfast and supper regularly and displays “boundless... (full context)

Every so often, Bruno describes a society meeting, stringing Simone da Villa along with tidbits about the women he... (full context)

Bruno would comply with Simone da Villa’s request—both because he loves him “as a brother” and... (full context)

Within a few days, Bruno and Buffalmacco explain to Simone da Villa how he will be inducted. That night, after... (full context)

...feet and throws him into the ditch, snarling and leaping around before running back to Bruno, who is hidden nearby. Simone climbs out of the ditch with great difficulty, scrapes off... (full context)

The next morning, Bruno and Buffalmacco paint bruises on their chests and visit Simone da Villa, who still reeks.... (full context)

...which he plans to buy a farm—at least until he realizes how expensive they are. Bruno and Buffalmacco can’t convince him to spend it on partying, but they and their friend... (full context)

The next morning, Nello, Buffalmacco, and Bruno place themselves in Calandrino’s path, and when they say good morning, they each comment on... (full context)

...“insatiable lust.” If he felt better, he would beat her for it. Nello, Buffalmacco, and Bruno can barely contain their laughter. (full context)

...of his inheritance. Simone says he will need some succulent chickens and other ingredients that Bruno will buy with five pounds. Bruno instead buys the chickens and “various other essential delicacies”... (full context)

...Villa declares him restored. Calandrino tells everyone about his miraculously fast and painless miscarriage-inducing treatment; Bruno, Buffalmacco, and Nello congratulate themselves on getting around his avarice; and Tessa, not deceived by... (full context)

...for her next tale. When Niccolò Cornacchini builds a mansion in the country, he commissions Bruno and Buffalmacco to paint its frescoes, and they recruit Nello and Calandrino to help. The... (full context)

...after she playfully heaves a few sighs, he falls hopelessly in love. When Calandrino tells Bruno, he claims that Niccolosa is Filippo’s wife and offers to act as a go-between for... (full context)

When Calandrino wanders off in search of Niccolosa, Bruno tells Buffalmacco and Nello about his crush and they plan a prank to play on... (full context)

...story short, Calandrino neglects his work in favor of wooing Niccolosa, Niccolosa encourages him, and Bruno acts as go-between. Occasionally, Bruno and Buffalmacco claim that Niccolosa wants a small present, and... (full context)

Bruno, having made the scroll, tells Calandrino that if he touches Niccolosa with it, she will... (full context)

...Niccolosa pushes Calandrino to the ground and then sits astride him, pinning his arms, while Bruno, Buffalmacco, and Bachelor Filippo watch from their secret spot. Just as Calandrino frees his arms... (full context)