Monna Tessa Character Analysis in The Decameron

In Emilia’s seventh tale (VII, 1), Monna Tessa is the unsatisfied wife of Gianni Lotteringhi. She takes Federigo di Neri Pegolotti as a lover and demonstrates the quick wit of Day VII’s tricky wives when she uses a fake exorcism to warn Federigo off and hide her affair from her husband.

Monna Tessa Character Timeline in The Decameron

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

...them. In Florence, successful merchant and devout Christian Gianni Lotteringhi lives with his wife, Monna Tessa. Quick, intelligent Monna Tessa (daughter of Mannuccio dalla Cuculia) takes Federigo di Neri Pegolotti as... (full context)

In the summer, Monna Tessa stays at her husband’s country villa which Gianni Lotteringhi visits only occasionally. She lets Federigo... (full context)

One day when Federigo di Neri Pegolotti is due to visit and Monna Tessa has prepared a nice meal, Gianni Lotteringhi turns up unexpectedly. She has a maid leave... (full context)

Gianni Lotteringhi assures Monna Tessa that he’s already said some efficacious prayers for safety. Inspired, she explains that an anchoress... (full context)

Emilia notes that some people say that Monna Tessa had set the skull for “stay away” but a farmhand unknowingly spun it around; in... (full context)

But as Calandrino enters his house, Calandrino’s wife, Tessa, chides him for missing breakfast. Stunned that she can see him, he cries that she... (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... (full context)

...and Buffalmacco. A small country farm made up part of the dowry of Calandrino’s wife (Tessa). Every year they’re entitled to a pig, which they slaughter and preserve. One year, when... (full context)

...the heliotrope incident and declares that Calandrino can’t fool them anymore. He threatens to tell Tessa, unless Calandrino gives them some chickens. Hoping to avoid further trouble, Calandrino gives in, and... (full context)

...takes his pulse, and declares that he is pregnant. Howling with dismay, Calandrino complains it’s Tessa’s fault, since she likes to be on top during sex. She leaves, embarrassed by this... (full context)

...painless miscarriage-inducing treatment; Bruno, Buffalmacco, and Nello congratulate themselves on getting around his avarice; and Tessa, not deceived by the whole affair, complains about it for a long time afterward. (full context)

...for Calandrino. Calandrino wants the affair kept from Nello; as a relative of his wife (Tessa), he worries Nello would snitch. (full context)

...the barn for privacy, where Bachelor Filippo and Buffalmacco are already hiding. Meanwhile, Nello entices Tessa to the estate with the chance to pay Calandrino back for beating her over the... (full context)

...their secret spot. Just as Calandrino frees his arms and is about to kiss Niccolosa, Tessa forces her way into the barn and attacks her prostrate husband, clawing his face and... (full context)