Boccaccio tells that story of Griselda, a story that we learn from Petrarch’s letter to him, is one that is well known in Italy at the time. I think this story is just wrong. Any man who would let a woman think that he had killed her children and then was going to put her aside for another wife is just plain wrong. And the idea that Griselda just goes along with it is terrible. Griselda needs to grow a backbone and tell her husband to shove it where the sun don’t shine. I know it makes a good story but the reality is that no one is that gracious and humble and obedient.
As we discussed in class, that fact that the story can be read as an allegory, does not mean that is should be read as such. Others see Griselda as the perfect Christian, who does whatever is asked of her by her lord and master. The fact that is not at all what most people would tolerate in real life has no bearing on the story and it’s characters.
These three panels show the story of Patient Griselda.
The story details the humilation of peasant girl Griselda by a rich Marquis, Gualteiri, who is seeking to mould the perfect wife.
Here Griselda (right) is forced to strip in front of the male courtiers.
In the second panel, Griselda has married Gualteiri, but he is keen to test her further.
He orders one of his servants to take Griselda’s baby daughter and tell her it is to be killed.
The panel shows Griselda’s acceptance as she tells the servant; “do exactly what your lord and mine has ordered you to do.”
The story climaxes with the return of Griselda’s daughter, now twelve, who was secretly raised in Bologna.
Griselda is told it is not her daughter but Gualteiri’s new bride-to-be, and she is ordered to sweep her quarters – which she does.
Eventually, Gualteiri confesses his trick, and says he has now taught Griselda “to be a wife.”
All images are copyright of the National Gallery.