How we cite our quotes: (Day.Story.Page)
Quote #4
I will grant you that things turned out nicely for Bernabò, but we, who spend our lives in the company of women from the cradle upwards, know perfectly well what they enjoy doing most. (II.10. 179, Dioneo's introduction the story of Paganino and Ricciardo)
Dioneo doesn't buy the story concerning Bernabò's virtuous wife. He's pretty sure—and the rest of the crew agrees—that women will make the most of the time their husbands spend away from home. One might say that this is yet another indication that The Decameron was written by a man. Or one might claim that Boccaccio was far ahead of his time, granting to women an equal right to acting on sexual desires. We're open to interpretation.
Quote #5
'Why is it, I wonder, that certain women make the mistake of holding themselves aloof from men and looking down upon them? If they would only consider their own natures, and stop to think of how much more nobility God has conceded to man than to any of the other animals, they would undoubtedly be proud of a man's love and hold him in the highest esteem, and do everything in their power to please him, so that he would never grow tired of loving them.' (III.7.246, Emilia's tale of Tedaldo degli Elise)
Deep psychological insight? Male wish fulfillment? Whichever side you take, you will certainly see more of this philosophy appearing throughout The Decameron. There's a strong sense in these tales and elsewhere in medieval literature that a woman who refuses the sexual desires of a man is sinning against nature. And for those romances involving courtly love, it can actually cause the death of the man. The story of Tedaldo degli Elisei is the perfect case in point. Tedaldo has the steadfast Ermellina believing that she has brought misfortune on herself because she refused to return Tedaldo's love.
Quote #6
She therefore allowed no trace of contrition or womanly distress to cloud her features, but addressed her father in a firm, unworried voice, staring him straight in the face without a single tear in her eyes.
'Tancredi,' she said, 'I am resolved neither to contradict you nor to implore your forgiveness, because denial would be pointless and I want none f your clemency. Nor do I have the slightest intention of appealing to either your better nature or your affection. On the contrary, I propose to tell you the whole truth, setting forth convincing arguments in defence of my good name, and afterwards I shall act unflinchingly in accordance with the promptings of my noble heart.' (IV.1.296.)
Brave Ghismonda is confronting her father about his disapproval of her beloved Guiscardo. Her confidence and resolve shines through in this speech, and she follows through by killing herself for love after her father has Guiscardo murdered and his heart sent to his daughter in a golden chalice. It's not only men who can obey the rules of courtly love and die for their beloved. B's totally on her side in all this.