In Dioneo’s tenth tale (X, 10), Gualtieri is the Marquis of Saluzzo. A confirmed bachelor, he marries Griselda under duress and proceeds to test her fidelity and obedience with sadistic acts like pretending to murder their children. Once she’s proved herself to him, he restores all he’s taken from her, and they live happily together.
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Gualtieri Character Timeline in The Decameron
The timeline below shows where the character Gualtieri appears in The Decameron. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Day 10: Tenth Tale
In Saluzzo, Marquis Gualtieri is a childless bachelor. His citizens, concerned by his lack of heirs, offer to find...
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Gualtieri already has his eye on a very beautiful but very poor girl in the local...
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Gualtieri leads Griselda outside, where he has her stripped naked in front of everyone. Dressing her...
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After the birth of their daughter, a “strange desire to test Griselda’s patience” seizes Gualtieri. At first, he subjects her to extensive verbal abuse, claiming that his citizens are unhappy...
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Griselda becomes pregnant again and gives birth to a boy. Again, despite his pleasure, Gualtieri cannot stop abusing her. Now, he claims, the people grumble that Giannùcole’s grandson will one...
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Many years later, Gualtieri decides “to put Griselda’s patience to the final test.” Telling everyone that his marriage was...
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With superhuman effort, Griselda holds back her tears as she tells Gualtieri how aware she is that her wealth and status were gifts from him. She cherishes...
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...to Giannùcole, puts on peasant clothes, and “bravely endur[es] the cruel assault of hostile fortune.” Gualtieri gives the impression he’s betrothed to a nobleman’s daughter, and as the wedding preparations commence,...
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Meanwhile, Gualtieri retrieves his children (now twelve and six years old) from Bologna as if the girl...
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...he realizes that Griselda truly believes his ruse and still betrays no sign of resentment, Gualtieri tells her that she is about to reap the reward of her patience. He says...
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Gualtieri embraces and kisses Griselda, who is weeping for joy, and then they embrace the children....
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...have endured these “cruel and unheard of trials” so cheerfully. And it would have served Gualtieri right to have married a wife who, after being turned out in her shift, found...
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