Page 64 - SUMMARIES OF GIOVANNI BOCCACCIO’S DECAMEON : A Visionary Journey In 100 Stories And 100 Etchings By Petru Russu

Massetto da Lamporecchio: The Mute, the Nuns, and the Abbess

This novella recounts the witty and audacious tale of Masetto, a young
laborer from Lamporecchio, who uses cunning and opportunism to exploit

an unusual situation in a convent. Themes of deception, desire, and
consequence are vividly depicted in this humorous narrative.

Masetto, seeking work, learns from Nuto, a disgruntled gardener, that a

poorly paid position at a convent is now vacant. Believing the nuns to be
harmless but demanding, Masetto devises a bold plan. Recognizing that
his youth and appearance might make the nuns wary, he pretends to be
deaf and mute to gain their trust.

The steward and Abbess, convinced of Masetto’s harmlessness, hire him
as the convent’s gardener. Masetto excels at his work, charming the nuns
with his strength and diligence. Believing he cannot hear or speak, the

nuns tease him openly, emboldened by his assumed vulnerability.

Two nuns, curious and tempted by Masetto’s presence, conspire to
test his supposed disability. Seizing the opportunity, Masetto willingly

becomes complicit. Word spreads among the sisters, and soon, Masetto
finds himself the clandestine lover of nearly the entire convent.

The Abbess, initially unaware, discovers Masetto asleep in the garden,
RENDERED IN EXUBERANT exhausted from his nocturnal activities. She, too, succumbs to temptation,
FIGURATION AND RIOTOUS
prompting Masetto to reveal his secret. Claiming to have miraculously
COLOR, THE ARTWORK REVEALS
A DIONYSIAN PLAYGROUND regained speech, he warns the Abbess that he will leave unless order is
WHERE SILENCE BEGETS restored. The Abbess, fearing scandal, strikes a deal to retain Masetto’s
SEDUCTION, MASETTO’S MASKED
services while maintaining discretion. Elevated to the role of steward,
VITALITY BLOOMING INTO JOYFUL
Masetto remains at the convent for years, fathering several children and
TRANSGRESSION ACROSS THE
CONVENT’S CLOISTERED STAGE. ensuring the nuns’ reputations are protected.
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