Decameron (Day 6)

9.2: How do the Abbess actions/ her physical appearance
change the outlook of the Nuns at the end of the story?

This story is very similar to a previous story I remember reading. In story 9.2 the other nuns play a trick upon a nun who is sleeping with a man. However, when they tell the Abbess to hurry up and catch the nun in the act, she herself is in bed with a priest. I found this very ironic; in another story Boccacio mentions that priests commonly sleep with women, yet I think it's a whole different thing for a priest to sleep with a nun. Talk about taking lust to the next level. Trickery is a prevalent theme in this story- the nuns trick the sinful nun, the Abbess tricks those very same nuns and attempts to chastise the nun who had been committing the exact same crime she was. And after the Abbess was found out because she mistakenly placed the priest's pants atop her head. I found this hilarious, especially how she so quickly changed her tune after being caught herself, and how both nuns from that point on got to continue fulfilling their desires. 

9.3: What is Boccaccio trying to show with the reoccurring
theme of women causing conflict and the physical abuse that
result from it?
I also really loved this story because of its comedy and sense of uniqueness. Trickery is the main theme here, too. Calandrino is tricked into believing he is pregnant and that it is his wife's fault for -of all things!- sleeping on top. The top is considered a position of power and control, and in the Middle Ages and even, sometimes, in this day and age the bottom is considered the proper place for women. Calandrino's wife Tessa is a modest woman, although apparently this is mostly an outer facade since in story 9.5 she physically and verbally abuses her husband. However, in this story Calandrino says that if he were well, he'd "give her such a beating {he'd} break every bone in her body."

Decameron

7.3 Question --- What is the central theme that drives the main characters’ actions in this story? What, if anything, does Bocaccio have to say about this theme? Use examples from the text to support your answer.
The prevalent themes that drives Rinaldo are lust and gluttony. He lusts for Madonna Agnesa, and constantly pesters her. His lust causes him to go so far as to become her child's godfather. When she denies him, and become a friar. Then his gluttony emerges. Even as a friar, Rinaldo buys expensive clothing and drinks, and sins as much as he wants. Boccaccio states that this is quite common, however; "Is there a friar that does not act this way?" (pg. 498) After the Madonna accepts his urges, he also uses trickery and wit to get through a tough situation.

"All About My Mother"

6. A character study of Agrado (especially her speech - how can she claim to be "very authentic"?), Manuela, Huma, or Rosa.

Agrado is a fascinating character. She speaks gruffly and is constantly calling her best friend Manuela a ‘bitch,’ but she means it as an endearment. She has silicone breasts, and her nose, cheeks, and butt aren’t natural either. (Neither is her dick). She is always wasting her money on the newest plastic surgery the market has to offer. She dyes her hair and is always wearing a ton of make-up.

However, I believe she can claim to be very authentic because she speaks her mind. She cares for her friends, knows who she is, and is content with the person she sees herself as. She hates goodbyes, but hates not saying goodbye even more. She is a confidant and tough lady who can take care of herself out on the street, and she is eventually able to find a better job. 

2. The theme of communication or the lack thereof in the film. How does Almodovar emphasize this in the film, among which characters, and why?

Communication (more like, the lack of it) is very present in this film. Esteban writes his wishes in a notebook instead of telling them to his mother directly. He wanted to know more about his father since all he'd been told was, "your father died long before you were born." Manuela would have told him all about his father, i'm sure, if only he'd made clear how empty he felt and how it felt as though half of his life was missing.
There is also miscommunication between Manuela and Lola. She doesn't tell him about Esteban; rather, she runs off and doesn't see Lola again for 18 years. Only then does he find out, and it is such a shame. He is delighted to know he had a son and desires to see him, but he cannot because Esteban is dead. This was my favorite part of the film.

The Decameron (Day Two)

3. In story 2.7, women are treated are prizes and trophies. Pericone is murdered by his brother, who desires Alatiel because she is 'extremely beautiful and most gracious.' By killing his brother, he 'wins' the lady and takes her for himself. We also see the idea of 'beautiful, silent' women in this story; this can be seen when Alatiel washes up on shore and Pericone desires to take her for his wife. He states that he is very happy they cannot understand each other's language. She is, essentially, mute.

It seems as though women in this story have basically no control over their lives, and it is the men deciding everything for them. Boccaccio seems to be saying through this story that it is the fault of the women that the men commit heinous acts.


 5. Story 3.1- The main difference between this story and 2.7 is that the woman didn't speak because she didn't know the language; basically, she was unable to speak. However, the man, Masetto, hid his ability to speak in order to achieve his goal. A similarity between both stories is that both main characters got laid, many many times, and this was both of their main goals. I believe that Boccaccio is saying that trickery and cunning is necessary to get what you want; that's how I interpret Masetto's muteness. To me, it seems as if both men and women share a similar sort of power when it comes to sex. I found it interesting that in this story a man decided to stay silent, because it is usually the women who end up doing that.

"Talk to Her"

The story of Sleeping Beauty goes like this: a beautiful baby princess is born. She is cursed by a witch to sleep forever until she is kissed by her true love. She gets kissed and then lives happily ever after with her prince. 

This idea ties back to the Middle Ages, when such a thing was common. What I mean by this is, it was a knight's duty to rescue a damsel in distress, particularly a beautiful one.

I believe that the film holds similar ideas to the Sleeping Beauty fairy tail. In 'Talk to Her' Alicia and Lydia are the sleeping princesses. Alicia is able to wake up because of Benigno's 'kiss.' He wakes her up with his touch because he is her 'prince,' there to rescue her from her deep sleep. However, Lydia is not as lucky. Marco is unable to become truly comfortable with her in her comatose state, especially after he finds out that she and her ex have gotten back together. Depressed, he stays away. Lydia, without her prince to rescue her, dies a year later. There is no 'happily ever after' for her. In truth, there is no happily ever after for Alicia and Benigno either. She wakes up, but her prince is gone and it seems she doesn't realize that he is the one who rescued her. Benigno, believing he has failed to rescue his love, then commits suicide. However, it then seems as if the 'true' prince and princess from this story find each other at the end (Alicia and Marco), and it seems as though they will live happily ever after together.