Page 190 - SUMMARIES OF GIOVANNI BOCCACCIO’S DECAMEON : A Visionary Journey In 100 Stories And 100 Etchings By Petru Russu

The Deception of Master Simone

This novella narrates a comical tale of gullibility and humiliation as
Bruno and Buffalmacco play a prank on the pompous Master Simone.
Themes of mischief, wit, and comeuppance shine throughout.

Master Simone, a self-important physician in Florence, fancies
himself a man of great intellect and influence. Seeing an opportunity
for amusement, Bruno and Buffalmacco, notorious pranksters, plot
to humble him.

They approach Simone with a fabricated tale: a prestigious secret
society invites him to join its exclusive ranks. Flattered and
intrigued, Simone eagerly accepts and follows their instructions to

attend a midnight initiation at a secluded location.

Led under the cover of darkness to an isolated spot, Simone
prepares to undertake the mysterious rite. As part of the

“ceremony,” the pranksters guide him to what he believes is a place
of honor but is, in fact, the edge of a foul, muddy ditch. At the
climax of the charade, Buffalmacco shoves Simone into the ditch,
leaving him to flounder in the filth.

Mortified and humiliated, Simone realizes he has been duped.
Bruno and Buffalmacco, meanwhile, delight in their successful
prank, sharing laughter at Simone’s expense. Despite his

embarrassment, the tale ends with Simone forced to confront his
FRAGMENTED PATTERNS AND vanity and gullibility.
EXAGGERATED FIGURES ENHANCE
THE CHAOTIC DESCENT OF SIMONE This lighthearted story highlights the joy of mischief and the
INTO HUMILIATION, VISUALLY
ECHOING HIS DOWNFALL. comedic consequences of self-importance.
DECAMERON 188 189