Ricciardo de’ Manardi Character Analysis in The Decameron

Appearing in Filostrato’s fifth tale (V, 4), Ricciardo de’ Manardi is a neighbor of Lizio da Valbona, his wife Giacomina, and their daughter Caterina. Although Lizio and Giacomina think of him almost as a son, he falls in love with their daughter Caterina and arranges to sleep with her under her parents’ noses. Upon being discovered, he willingly decides to marry Caterina rather than face her parents’ wrath. He and Caterina are very happy lovers both before and after their marriage.

Ricciardo de’ Manardi Quotes in The Decameron

The The Decameron quotes below are all either spoken by Ricciardo de’ Manardi or refer to Ricciardo de’ Manardi . 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:

When there was no longer any sound to be heard, Ricciardo climbed over a wall with the aid of a ladder, then climbed up to the side of the house by clinging with great difficulty to a series of stones projecting from the wall. At every moment of the ascent, he was in serious danger of falling, but in the end he reached the balcony unscathed, where he was silently received by the girl with very great rejoicing. After exchanging many kisses, they lay down together and for virtually the entire night they had delight and joy of one another, causing the nightingale to sing at frequent intervals.

Related Characters: Filostrato (speaker), Caterina, Ricciardo de’ Manardi

Page Number and Citation: 396

Explanation and Analysis:

Ricciardo de’ Manardi Character Timeline in The Decameron

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

...no one less than a great nobleman. The couple is friendly with a youth named Ricciardo de’ Manardi da Brettinoro , who spends so much time in their home that they think of him as... (full context)

Ricciardo de’ Manardi da Brettinoro suggests that Caterina ask for permission to sleep on a balcony overlooking the garden, where... (full context)

...bed, with curtains hanging around it, is placed on the balcony. That night, she signals Ricciardo de’ Manardi da Brettinoro , and he climbs up—with some difficulty and danger—to her. Together, they make the nightingales... (full context)

...the nightingale and “is holding it in her hand.” Because of the deceitful way that Ricciardo de’ Manardi da Brettinoro has behaved, Madonna Giacomina is about to scream bloody murder, but Lizio restrains her. Brettinoro... (full context)