Lauretta Character Analysis in The Decameron

Lauretta is a member of the brigata. Her name is a diminutive form of “Laura.” Because “Laura” was the name under which Petrarch described the love that inspired his sonnets, she thus links Giovanni Boccaccio’s work with that of his friend and mentor. She travels to the countryside with her maid, Chimera, and she is crowned the sovereign of Day VIII, featuring pranks and tricks. She writes her own songs, as she tells Filostrato at the end of Day III, and her plaintive song introduces the unsuccessful lovers theme of Day IV.

Lauretta Quotes in The Decameron

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

The stones he possessed were, he discovered, so valuable and numerous that, even if he sold them at less than their market value, he would be twice as rich as when he had set out. So that, having taken steps to dispose of his gems, he sent, by way of payment for services received, a tidy sum of money to the good woman of Corfu who had fished him out of the sea. And likewise, he sent a further sum to the people at Trani who had given him the new clothes. He was no longer interested in commerce, so he kept the remainder of the money and lived in splendor for the rest of his days.

Related Characters: Lauretta (speaker), Landolfo Rufolo

Related Symbols: Fortune, Gifts

Page Number and Citation: 96

Explanation and Analysis:

“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:

When certain galleys arrived from the Levant belonging to Genoese pirates, who had captured a great many children along the Armenian coast, he purchased a number of them, believing them to be Turkish. For the most part, they appeared to be of rustic, shepherd stock, but there was one, Teodoro by name, who seemed gently bred and better looking than any of the others […] as he grew older, being prompted by his innate good breeding rather than by the accident of his menial status, he acquired so much poise and so agreeable a manner that Messer Amerigo granted him his freedom […] had him baptized and re-named Pietro, and placed him in charge of his business affairs, taking him deeply into his confidence.

Related Characters: Lauretta (speaker), Amerigo Abate, Teodoro (Pietro)

Page Number and Citation: 412

Explanation and Analysis:

Lauretta Character Timeline in The Decameron

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

...embarrassment that might arise from naughtiness in their stories. They are Pampinea, Fiammetta, Filomena, Emelia, Lauretta, Neifile, and Elissa. (full context)

Lauretta picks up on the theme of greed and rebuke with the tale of Ermino de’... (full context)

Lauretta speaks next, noting that no one could describe a greater distance for fortune to raise... (full context)

...remarks that Landolfo’s jewels have reminded her of a tale with as much adventure as Lauretta’s—but which is more exciting because it happened in the space of one night. Her protagonist... (full context)

Lauretta’s tale, told next, picks up on the theme of a supposedly resurrected man, but her... (full context)

...has the privilege of going last. Protesting how hard it will be to follow up Lauretta’s entertaining tale, she offers her own “for what it is worth.” (full context)

...romances, others playing games—until supper, after which they prepare to enjoy some music. Filostrato asks Lauretta to sing, and she offers one of her own songs with the warning that the... (full context)

Filostrato, annoyed that Pampinea told a funny tale, hopes that Lauretta will do better. Despite her feeling that his focus on misery is unkind to lovers,... (full context)

...to hear the lovers’ fate, rejoiced and thanked God for their release. The queen commands Lauretta to tell the next tale, and she cheerfully begins. In Sicily during the reign of... (full context)

...talking about previous days’ tales. After breakfast, some nap, others play games, and Dioneo and Lauretta sing about Troilus and Criseyde. As they gather for the day’s stories, a commotion arises... (full context)

Lauretta agrees with Filomena and Pampinea about the importance of wit as a skill for ladies,... (full context)

...for its implication about his relative. They ride away ashamed. And, because they bit first, Lauretta believes her “equally biting retort” wasn’t wrong. (full context)

Lauretta begins her tale by praising Love, whose mighty powers regularly save his disciples. In Arezzo,... (full context)

Fiammetta picks up on Lauretta’s theme and offers another example of marital jealousy. In Rimini a Jealous Merchant loves the... (full context)

As the day’s stories end and the sun sets, Dioneo places the crown on Lauretta’s head. She wants to hear more stories about the tricks that both men and women... (full context)

When Filomena is done singing, Lauretta reminds the company that the next day is Friday and suggests that they observe the... (full context)

...the morning in various amusements. In the afternoon, they gather for the day’s tales, and Lauretta asks Neifile to begin. (full context)

Before beginning her tale, Lauretta notes that some people’s ignorance means that they’re practically begging to be pranked. Tricksters who... (full context)

Dioneo’s tale diverges from Lauretta’s by telling about a cunning revenge taken on a cunning, not foolish, victim. (full context)

Lauretta, commending Pietro dello Canigiano’s wisdom, elects Emilia the next day’s sovereign. Emilia notes that times... (full context)

...rest of the day’s tales have almost all recalled something said on an earlier occasion, Lauretta’s tale will answer Pampinea’s from Day 7 by describing a much less brutal vendetta where... (full context)

...and the Abbot of Cluny. Since the ground of basic generosity has been amply covered, Lauretta turns to tales of love to open new areas. She feels that her protagonist’s actions... (full context)

...remains friendly with her and her husband for the rest of his life. In closing, Lauretta asks the company if he isn’t the most generous example thus far since he was... (full context)

Emilia, like Lauretta, challenges her audience to decide who is the more generous lover: Gentile de’ Carisendi, for... (full context)