Decameron- Day 4

5.8-
What myth does Boccaccio use as a plot device in this story?

In the eighth story of day five Boccaccio uses the myth of Prometheus as a plot device to advance the story. In this myth Prometheus is punished for stealing fire from the gods and giving it to man. The punishment that he must endure is to have his liver eaten by an eagle every day for the rest of eternity. Boccaccio takes this story and modifies it for his purposes. In his version there are two people being punished, a suicidal knight, and the maiden who he loved. The knight is doomed to hunt the woman that he loved as punishment for him commiting suicide, and she is being hunted as punishment for her scorn. Ultimately, the girl ends up being slayed by the knight and her organs are fed to a pair of dogs. This process goes on every day.

This modification of the Prometheus myth is used by Boccaccio as a way to show the implications of love. In the story, the knights love is like the fire that Prometheus stole. In this case, however, the girl stole the knight's love. That is why her punishment is the same as Prometheus'. The modification to the myth really shows when the knight is being punished as well. I believe that his punishment stems from the fact that he foolishly gave his love. Because of this, Boccaccio is using him as an example to show the dangers of loving too readily.