The 14th century marked a significant shift in philosophy for mankind: suddenly, life was not about being spiritual, deeming yourself to an omnipotent being, or living up to the standards of sacred scriptures, instead, life was about self-enlightenment, the devotion to human welfare, and adherence to human nature. This different perspective of life has forever defined history to what it is right now. This is Humanism in the Renaissance era. Humanism in the Renaissance has created a bridge between the Middle Ages and modern history and has forever blessed the entire world population and their posterity with an endless amount of literature, arts, and technology to study, examine, and appreciate. There are many names who deserve to be honored for their contribution for human prosperity, such as Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press, Galileo Galilei, the inventor of the telescope, and Giovanni Boccaccio, the one man who singlehandedly and forever redefined the way literature is written and celebrated. Giovanni Boccaccio is a very prominent person not only because he was the author of very notable works but because of the way he developed characters, plot, and dialogue. A great example where Boccaccio practices great developments is within one of his finest works, the Decameron. The Decameron was a collection of stories told by 10 people who are fleeing the Bubonic Plague from Florence to Fiesole, Italy. Within the fifth day of the group of 10 being together, a story is told by a woman named Fiammetta, “Federigo’s Falcon “(Serafini-Sauli). Giovanni Boccaccio wonderfully wrote “Federigo’s Falcon” as he portrayed a tragic, romantic, and ironic story of sacrifice and love through the sophisticated use of literary devices such as irony and symbolism.
“Federigo’s Falcon” is about a man, Federigo, who lived in Florence and was in love with a woman, Giovanna. The woman would never pay the man any attention even though he devoted all of his time to Giovanna and spent his money “without restraint” in an attempt to catch her eye (Boccaccio). The man eventually fell into poverty and Giovanna's husband fell ill and died. As a result, both Federigo and Giovanna were brought forth to Campi, a rural area, where the man resided there permanently as he could not live up to his standards of living in Florence and the woman decided to visit one of her son’s inherited possessions in Campi. In such dark times, Giovanna’s son became sick just a few days after the woman was left to become a widow. Naturally as a mother, the woman “felt obligated to care for every need of her son’s” and nurture him back to health (Overview). As she offered him of any service that would possibly make her son feel better, the son tells her that he would like Federigo's falcon. The son fell in love with the falcon as he happened to become friends with Federigo himself. The falcon soaring through the sky with liberty always left the little boy in awe. The falcon was the only thing that Federigo had left after he was forced into poverty though, the falcon was his pride and joy after the woman of his dreams denied his love many times. Giovanna suddenly needed Federigo's help and for the first time actually acknowledges him.
Giovanna then invites herself over for diner, “I have come to compensate you for the harm you have suffered on my account by loving me more than you needed to… I intend to dine with you… this very day,” (Boccaccio). Federigo had only two options: either deny her dinner for some other time or make a great impression and give her all that he had to offer in order to make her content. In a heartbeat, Federigo decided to give her everything he had, just as he has before, only this time he will truly be giving her the only thing he had left, his only companion. Federigo’s companion, the falcon, symbolizes the speed of thought. Federigo did not have much time to think things through, the love of his life was standing on his door asking for dinner: swift action needed to be taken, he could not think twice, he could not lose his chance to impress Giovanna, he had to give her a presentable meal, his falcon. Opportunities in life do not come every day, although they are always near: just as Giovanna’s coincidental proximity at Campi to Federigo, and those opportunities are to be taken for advantage whenever they do come around, just as Federigo did.
After “butchering, cleaning, roasting the bird and setting the table”, Federigo offers the well prepared meal to Giovanna (Overview). After feasting on Federigo's falcon, Giovanna confesses to Federigo her reason for paying him a visit. Giovanna attempts to appeal to Federigo by acknowledging his pursuit for her and then describes her maternal love and obligations for her son. After expressing her understanding of Federigo's hardships, selflessness towards her, and his lost in fortune and time, she goes on to explain how ill her son is, and how much he admires Federigo's falcon. Claiming to make her request not on the grounds of Federigo's love for her but only based on her understanding of his kind and gentle nature, Giovanna tells Federigo that if she does not return home with Federigo's falcon, she fears her son will die.
With nothing to say, Federigo shed a tear and began to sob uncontrollably. Federigo then tells Giovanna how he made a meal for her of the only thing he had to offer, his falcon. Giovanna initially rebuked him for butchering such a beautiful bird for the purpose to satisfy her appetite but the same time, Giovanna appreciated the nobility and gesture of Federigo's actions and understood that regardless of Federigo’s lack of luxury, he is a true gentleman. After expressing her appreciation, Giovanna returned home to her son passing away. Her dead husband’s fortunes which was passed onto the little boy has now gone to Giovanna. Now that she was rich, young, healthy, and independent, Giovanna's family encouraged her to marry again. She insisted that she was happy living independently without a husband but she then stated that if she must marry, she would get married to none other than Federigo. Initially Giovanna received backlash and her family protested that Federigo is simply too poor to marry such an extravagant woman, but Giovanna defended his honor, acknowledging him as a respectful man. Eventually, her family approved the match.
The irony within this story can be pointed when Giovanna’s son becomes so attached to Federigo’s falcon that when he falls ill, he request for falcon to keep for himself but then as Giovanna travels to Federigo's house to request the bird, he decides to prepare her a falcon, seeing as he does not have food in the house, prior to finding out the reason for her visit (Williams). This portrays a great act of sacrifice for a loved one, Federigo was willing to trade in his one and only prized possession for the happiness and satisfaction of the woman of his dreams. This mindset took a lot of time from Federigo and nearly bankrupt him to the point where he couldn’t live up to his standards of living back in the city. Eventually though, when both the Falcon and Giovanna’s son were taken away from the face of the Earth, the woman and the man arranged a marriage and lived ever happily after. Federigo was now swimming in the riches from his newly wedded wife Giovanna who inherited everything from her deceased husband.
All in all, Giovanni Boccaccio wrote an outstanding story of sacrifice and love. Through symbolism and situational irony, Boccaccio portrayed that whatever is inputted into the universe will eventually return in a greater form, all that must be done is wait patiently because everyone will have their time to shine (Overview). In this case, Federigo spent all of his riches and time to catch the attention of a woman and in the end the woman of his dreams blessed him with wealth and time to be spent together, forever, in love. Nothing is hopeless, dedication and commitment must be given if you desire something, especially in dire times.