Boccaccio and the Reality of Nature in The Decameron.
The representation of reality in Western civilization has shifted at various points over millennia in response to fundamental changes in society and shifts in the paradigm through which people viewed the world around them. In this context, this essay will argue that Boccaccio's The Decameron can be seen both participating in the secular humanist movement of the late medieval period, as well as deviating from it with his characteristic preoccupation with the world "as is" as opposed to humanist focus on the "ideal". As such, his work can be seen as a major re-vision of the representation of reality in Western civilization. 7 pgs. 2 sources.
