Decameron Theme of Lies & Deceit

Boccaccio proves to us that deception in its many forms makes for great stories. He's given us two full days dedicated to lies and pranks and has created an entire comedic cast of characters dedicated to pranking the gullible (Buffalmacco, Bruno and Nello). The stories are brimming with masks, disguises, fake magic and misdirection. That's to say nothing of the lovers and clergymen who'll will do and say anything to satisfy their desires. Much of the time, Boccaccio's praising the tricksters for their wit in being able to get what they want. The underlying message seems to be that we can't always trust things to be what they seem. In fact the very first story's about a crook who passes himself off very convincingly (on his deathbed) as the saintliest guy around.

You might even argue that the entire concept of The Decameron is an exercise in deception. We have an author who tells us in the frame story and the epilogue that he's simply trying to provide solace to ladies who are unlucky in love and that they'll find much in the tales (even the unsavory ones) to help them align their moral compasses. Yeah, right—four stories later, monks are cavorting in bed with young girls. To address any objections to the obscene tales, he creates the biggest whopper of all: the characters made me write these stories.

1. At what level does deception become unacceptable in the tales? How can you tell that either the storyteller or Boccaccio disapproves?
2. In what ways are male and female pranks/lies/misrepresentations different?
3. What role does comedy play in the representation of deception in The Decameron?
4. How does Boccaccio "lie" to us in this work? Is it merely through the fiction of the story or is there another level of deception?

Boccaccio uses deception to "even the playing field" in a variety of situations, often excusing the deception involved because it empowers those who suffer or who are oppressed.

Although tales such as Friar Cipolla and the Calandrino stories seem to glorify charlatans and pranksters, the act of defining the characters' depravity gives them a moral or didactic purpose.