Dom Felice Character Analysis in The Decameron

In Panfilo’s third tale (III, 4), Dom Felice is a handsome and intelligent young monk who gives people the impression of holiness. Friar Puccio cultivates his friendship for spiritual guidance. But he is inclined to gluttony (bringing a great feast to Puccio’s house) and lust (sleeping with his wife Isabetta), so he is another facet of The Decameron’s anticlerical satire.

Dom Felice Quotes in The Decameron

The The Decameron quotes below are all either spoken by Dom Felice or refer to Dom Felice. 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:

Friar Puccio thought he could detect a certain amount of vibration in the floorboards. When […] he had recited a hundred of his paternosters […] without leaving his post, he called out to his wife and demanded to know what she was doing.

His wife […] who at that moment was possibly riding bareback astride the nag of Saint Benedict or Saint John Gaulbert, replied:

‘Heaven help me, dear husband, I am shaking like mad.’

‘Shaking? … What is the meaning of all this shaking?’

His wife shrieked with laughter […] ‘What,’ she replied, ‘You don’t know its meaning? Haven’t I heard you saying, hundreds of times: “He that supper doth not take, in his bed all night will shake”?’

[…]

‘Wife,’ he replied […] ‘I told you not to fast, but you would insist. Try not to think about it. Try and go to sleep.’

Related Characters: Panfilo (speaker), Friar Puccio, Monna Isabetta, Dom Felice

Page Number and Citation: 220

Explanation and Analysis:

Dom Felice Character Timeline in The Decameron

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

...her a sermon when she would prefer to have sex. Things stand this way when Dom Felice , a handsome young monk, returns from Paris and begins to cultivate Friar Puccio’s friendship—mainly... (full context)

Dom Felice soon notices Isabetta and, with meaningful looks, kindles her desire. But they’re prevented from acting... (full context)

Dom Felice takes Friar Puccio aside and praises him for his saintly aspirations. He offers to teach... (full context)

...Isabetta, she endorses it and agrees to join him in fasting. During Puccio’s long penance, Dom Felice comes by to share a lavish meal and spend the night in Isabetta’s bed. (full context)

...out to ask Isabetta what’s happening. Isabetta, maintaining her presence of mind even while riding Dom Felice , calls back that she’s shaking on account of the fast. Gullible Puccio accepts her... (full context)