The Decameron

The Decameron

by

Giovanni Boccaccio

Ricciardo Minutolo Character Analysis

Ricciardo Minutolo appears in Fiammetta’s third tale (III, 6). He is a Neapolitan gentleman who loves Catella Sighinolfo, although her jealous devotion to her husband keeps her from returning his affections. He demonstrates the day’s theme—perseverance—when he resorts to trickery and has sex with her under the pretense that he is her husband. Afterwards, he blackmails her into continuing the affair by threatening to tell her husband what she’s done.
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Ricciardo Minutolo Character Timeline in The Decameron

The timeline below shows where the character Ricciardo Minutolo appears in The Decameron. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Day 3: Sixth Tale
Love and Sex Theme Icon
Men and Women Theme Icon
Intelligence Theme Icon
...describes how an ingenious lover coerces the prudish object of his desire into his embraces. Ricciardo Minutolo loves Catella, the wife of Filippello Sighinolfo. But because she is truly devoted to her... (full context)
Men and Women Theme Icon
Moderation and Excess Theme Icon
Intelligence Theme Icon
...point of fearing that the “very birds flying in the air” might steal him. Eventually, Ricciardo Minutolo realizes he can take advantage of her jealousy. He stops pursuing her to gain her... (full context)
Men and Women Theme Icon
Moderation and Excess Theme Icon
But Ricciardo Minutolo claims that when Filippello arranged a secret meeting with his wife at a bath house,... (full context)
Love and Sex Theme Icon
Moderation and Excess Theme Icon
Having laid his trap, Ricciardo Minutolo hides himself in the darkest room of the bath house, where he waits for Catella’s... (full context)
Love and Sex Theme Icon
Men and Women Theme Icon
Ricciardo Minutolo enjoys Catella’s speech. When she tells “Filippello” that maybe she should repay him by taking... (full context)