In Filostrato’s sixth tale (VI, 7), Madonna Filippa is the wife of Rinaldo de’ Pugliesi and the lover of her husband’s sworn enemy, Lazzarino de’ Guazzagliotri. When Rinaldo catches her with Lazzarino, he has her indicted for adultery, which carries a punishment of death. But, because love makes her brave, Madonna Filippa not only successfully defends herself against the charge of adultery but gets the statutes changed. She thus demonstrates the power of a witty retort—especially coming from a woman.
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Madonna Filippa Character Timeline in The Decameron
The timeline below shows where the character Madonna Filippa appears in The Decameron. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Day 6: Seventh Tale
...or not—will be burned at the stake. When Rinaldo de’ Pugliesi discovers his wife Madonna Filippa in the arms of Lazzarino de’ Guazzagliotri, he invokes this statute. Love makes Madonna Filippa...
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The magistrate is impressed with Madonna Filippa’s beauty, breeding, and fortitude. He hopes she won’t confess so he can avoid sentencing her...
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If the court insists on prosecuting her by this unfair law, Madonna Filippa wants it to ask her husband if she ever denied him when he asked for...
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Day 8: First Tale
...seeking material gain—deserve leniency for their sexual indiscretions, as illustrated in Filostrato’s tale of Madonna Filippa.
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