Page 182 - SUMMARIES OF BOCCACCIO’S DECAMERON - A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

The Judge from the Marches

This novella humorously recounts the tale of a pompous judge and

the clever antics of three young men who expose his hypocrisy.
Themes of wit, justice, and comeuppance drive the story.

A judge from the Marches, known for his arrogance and
questionable morals, presides over a court session with an air of
self-importance. His reputation for exploiting his position to pursue
personal pleasures has not gone unnoticed by the townsfolk.

Three mischievous young men, fed up with the judge’s behavior,
devise a plan to humble him. As the judge sits on the bench,
delivering justice with exaggerated gravitas, the trio stealthily

approaches. In a bold and comical act, they pull down his breeches,
exposing him to the laughter and ridicule of the gathered crowd.

The judge, humiliated and unable to maintain his dignity, becomes
the subject of public mockery. The young men’s prank serves as

a symbolic act of justice, highlighting the absurdity of the judge’s
pretensions and the community’s disdain for his hypocrisy.

This lighthearted tale underscores the power of wit and the
enduring appeal of holding those in power accountable through
humor and ingenuity.

DYNAMIC GEOMETRIC INTERPLAY
HIGHLIGHTS THE SATIRE
AND HYPOCRISY, VISUALLY
EMPHASIZING THE SHIFT FROM
AUTHORITY TO RIDICULE
DECAMERON 182 183