The Blasphemous Citizen appears as the Franciscan Inquisitor’s victim in Emilia’s first tale (I, 6). His “sin” is bragging that Christ would have enjoyed his fine wine, but he’s targeted because he has enough wealth to escape most of his penance with a generous donation to the Franciscans. When he criticizes the Church’s greed and lack of charity towards the poor, he becomes a mouthpiece for The Decameron’s anticlerical satire.
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Blasphemous Citizen Character Timeline in The Decameron
The timeline below shows where the character Blasphemous Citizen appears in The Decameron. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Day 1: Sixth Tale
...was so delicious that even Jesus Christ would have enjoyed drinking it. Because the Blasphemous Citizen is very rich, and because the Inquisitor, like many clergy members, suffers from “Golden-Mouth” sickness,...
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The generosity of the Blasphemous Citizen’s donation reduces his punishment to wearing a pilgrim’s badge, attending daily mass, and reporting to...
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While the other Franciscan friars sitting with the Inquisitor burst out laughing—understanding the Citizen’s mockery—the Inquisitor himself flies into a rage and is only prevented from adding on to...
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