Page 200 - Summaries of Boccaccio's Decameron: A Visionary Journey in 100 Stories and 100 Etchings by Petru Russu

Calandrino’s Bizarre Predicament
This novella brims with humor and absurdity, centering on
As the prank unfolds, the group continues to embellish the story,
PLAYFUL DISTORTIONS AND
CHAOTIC ENERGY REINFORCE THE
ESCALATING DECEPTION, TURNING
FOLLY INTO AN EXPRESSIVE
VISUAL SATIRE.
DECAMERON 198
Calandrino, a gullible man who falls victim to his mischievous
friends’ elaborate prank. Themes of folly, wit, and camaraderie
guide this tale.
Bruno, Buffalmacco, and Nello, Calandrino’s painter friends, decide
to exploit his naivety for their amusement. Noticing Calandrino’s
pale demeanor, they convince him that he is afflicted by a peculiar
ailment. Taking the ruse further, Master Simone, a quack doctor,
declares that Calandrino is miraculously “with child.”
Panicked, Calandrino pleads for a cure. The friends promise to
help but demand payment, capons and money, claiming these are
necessary for the “medicine.” Calandrino, desperate, complies with
their demands, providing a feast and depleting his savings.
suggesting increasingly bizarre remedies. Calandrino, clueless and
frightened, follows their instructions without question. Ultimately,
the friends declare him “cured” without any delivery, pocketing the
rewards of their trick.
When the truth is revealed, Calandrino, initially humiliated, cannot
help but laugh along, his good-natured spirit prevailing despite the
elaborate jest. The story leaves readers with a comedic reminder of
the power of gullibility and the enduring bonds of friendship.
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