know it would cease to exist if male and female humans were honestly all treated the same. The reason for this is simple and very direct, humans although want equality demonstrate the complete opposite. There is media now in day that include, books, novels, movies, theater performances, and so much more that reflect how poorly and how little todays society respect woman. Through words, pictures, adjectives, and examples, woman are constantly humiliated, mistreated, and unappreciated due to typical gender role stereotypes. In the society and the time setting frame that Giovanni Boccaccio’s The Decameron is…
In the Holy Bible, there is verse that reads “Love the Lord your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws, and his commands always” (The Holy Bible, Deu. 11.1). The meaning of this is that if God’s children obey him and remain steadfast in their faith, God will bless them in ways that they could never have imagined. In the Book of Job, this promise is exemplified when Job, who is perfect in all ways, is cursed twice by Satan (with God’s permission), only to later be rewarded for his…
have managed to find it in others” (Boccaccio). There is not a definition of a perfect human, and many come in different shapes and sizes. One thing that everyone has in common is the struggle of life. In this specific quote, Giovanni Boccaccio refers to the treatment of women in society, which leads to a lifetime of internal suffering. In times of struggle, the Bubonic Plague showed compassion in those who were comforted by the empathy of others. Giovanni Boccaccio and Petrarch, the leading…
The Italian Icon Giovanni Boccaccio, an author who illustrates his works realistically, “He paints the world as the world, the flesh as flesh, nature as nature, without suggesting a question” (Symonds). To begin with, as Boccaccio grew as a person and writer, he merely focused on realism. At a young age, Boccaccio was forced to work with his father as a merchant. With the long hours of treacherous trading, little to no income, and realization that life is better somewhere else, Boccaccio had a…
In today’s world there is a much more scientific and social understanding to identifying sociopaths and psychopaths. Compared to times like the Middle Ages and the Renaissance there is a much more concrete definition for these distinct personalities. Understanding what we now know, sometimes when you learn history it really makes you wonder if some people in the past were textbook defined sociopaths or psychopaths. It surely played a role back then as we see noticeable characteristics such as…
million people and over 60% of the European population. It was used as the first ever form of biological warfare by the Mongols. Three Authors named Gabriele de’ Mussis, Giovanni Boccaccio, and Ahmad al-Maqrizi wrote about their first and second hand accounts of the decease; and how it affected people both mentally and physically. I will be discussing each author’s narrative while comparing and contrasting their point of views and experiences regarding the Black Plague. Unlike the other two…
Geoffrey Chaucer and Giovanni Boccaccio both use frame stories to get a message across through their writing. Money is the root of all evil is a theme seen in “The Pardoner’s Tale” by Chaucer, and people make great sacrifices for the ones they love is a theme in “Federigo’s Falcon” by Boccaccio. These two selections contrast with each other because the theme in “The Pardoner’s Tale” shows that people act selfishly out of greed while the theme of “Federigo’s Falcon” shows that people act…
Donna Elvira is portrayed as the “Donna Abbandonata” (abandoned woman) throughout various literature. In particular, I will examine her character through Wolfgang A. Mozart and Lorenzo Da Ponte’s Don Giovanni. Donna Elvira is a sensible and imprudent woman throughout her ordeal with Don Giovanni. She can’t decide whether she wants to kiss Giovanni or to kill him. Donna Elvira is unwavering in her goal throughout the opera. She is in love with Don Giovanni even while being completely aware of his…
Introduction to Opera Compare the characters of Carmen and Micaëla in Carmen. What are the differences between them, how is this expressed in the music, and do you think the outcome is inevitable? Introduction Bizet's Carmen is an Opera in four acts, first performed at the Opéra-Comique in Paris on 3 March with a plot based on the 1845 novella by Mérimée. Today it stands as one of the most popular french operas of all time.The Opera explores the relationship between the enchanting Carmen and…
which inspired him to compose eight Italian opera serias, seven opera buffa, and five Singspiel. In 1785, Mozart and Da Ponte met and soon started a partnership on Mozart’s masterpieces: Le Nozze di Figaro (1786) , Don Giovanni (1787) and Cosi fan tutte (1790). The last compositional piece in which Mozart worked on was the Requiem Mass started in 1791. This was a piece of funeral music for the Roman Catholic church, that von Walsegg commissioned Mozart to work on. Mid-composition Mozart died at…