The Decameron

The Decameron

by

Giovanni Boccaccio

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on The Decameron makes teaching easy.
Madonna Isabella appears in Pampinea’s seventh tale (VII, 6). She is a Florentine noblewoman who has grown tired of Isabella’s Husband and has two lovers: Leonetto, whom she loves, and Lambertuccio, who has coerced her into having sex with him. She tricks her husband and her unwanted lover, saving herself from a bad situation. She shows that women’s tricks aren’t limited to their husbands.
Get the entire The Decameron LitChart as a printable PDF.
The Decameron PDF

Isabella Character Timeline in The Decameron

The timeline below shows where the character Isabella appears in The Decameron. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Day 7: Sixth Tale
Men and Women Theme Icon
Class and Character Theme Icon
...story demonstrating how love can inspire creative thinking. A young Florentine noblewoman (later identified as Madonna Isabella ) grows tired of her husband and takes the humbly-born but accomplished Leonetto as her... (full context)
Men and Women Theme Icon
One summer day, while she’s staying alone in her country villa, Madonna Isabella invites Leonetto to visit. But while they’re together, Lambertuccio (knowing that her husband is out)... (full context)
Love and Sex Theme Icon
Intelligence Theme Icon
With “extraordinary presence of mind,” Madonna Isabella convinces Lambertuccio to take out a dagger and run downstairs waving it like a madman... (full context)