Ferondo Character Analysis in The Decameron

Ferondo appears in Lauretta’s third tale (III, 8) as a wealthy but uncouth Tuscan yeoman (a farmer who owned his land). He is excessively jealous of his beautiful wife. His lack of common sense allows the Womanizing Abbot to imprison him and have a long affair with Ferondo’s Wife and provides much of the tale’s humor.

Ferondo Quotes in The Decameron

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

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“Ferondo, be of good cheer, for God has decreed that you should go back to earth, where, after your return, your wife will present you with a son. See that the child is christened Benedict, for it is in answer to the prayers of your reverend Abbot and your wife, and because of His love for Saint Benedict, that God has done you this favour.”

This announcement was received by Ferondo with great glee.

“I am very glad to hear it,” he said. “God bless Mister Almighty and the Abbot and Saint Benedict and my cheesy-weesy, honey-bunny, sweetie-weetie wife.”

Related Characters: Lauretta (speaker), Womanizing Abbot, Ferondo, Ferondo’s Wife

Page Number and Citation: 262

Explanation and Analysis:

Ferondo Character Timeline in The Decameron

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

...as Tedaldo. In Tuscany, a Womanizing Abbot with a reputation for holiness becomes acquainted with Ferondo, a wealthy but simple-headed man who happens to have a very beautiful wife. Ferondo’s Wife... (full context)

Ferondo’s Wife complains to the Womanizing Abbot about being married to a bumpkin like Ferondo and... (full context)

...is only a sin of the body, and that saintliness resides in the soul; besides, Ferondo’s Wife should take it as an extreme compliment to her beauty that he, accustomed to... (full context)

When Ferondo visits the monastery a few days later, the Womanizing Abbot drugs him with a special... (full context)

The following day, the Womanizing Abbot visits Ferondo’s Wife to pay his respects—and to arrange to come by later. She readily accepts when... (full context)

When Ferondo comes to, the Bolognese Monk pretends they’re in Purgatory, beating him with sticks and scolding... (full context)

The Bolognese Monk keeps up this charade—while the Womanizing Abbot continues his affair with Ferondo’s Wife—for ten months, until she realizes that she’s pregnant. They agree it’s time to recall... (full context)

The Womanizing Abbot drugs Ferondo, dresses him in his own clothes, and puts him back in his coffin. He emerges... (full context)