Iris E.

Mangurali BSED ENG 2A

1. How are women  seen and treated by the society during the Middle Ages?  How is
irony presented in the story "Alibech and Rustico" by Giovanni Boccaccio?

During the Middle Ages, women are not that important in the society. Throughout the
Medieval period, women were viewed as second class citizens, and their needs always
were an afterthought. They were either held to be completely deceitful, sexual, innocent,
or incompetent. In those times, women were seen as helpers, peasants, and wives. They
do not have the power to lead or be Independent. 
Women living in towns had similar responsibilities to those in the countryside. Just as
rural women helped with their husbands' work, urban women assisted their fathers and
husbands in a wide variety of trades and crafts, including the production of textiles,
leather goods, and metal work, as well as running shops and inns. In the same way, in the
story of “Alibech and Rustico” has given the representation that women at those times
were mostly subjected to men, innocent, servers, and just a mere wife. It is how Alibech
was so innocent on those things that she didn’t know she was already harassed. She also
ought to serve Rustico in knowing she was bringing the evil back to hell. 

2. How would you see the significance of fire which killed the family members of
Alibech? As to what does the fire serve?

It all started from Rustico’s deception to Alibech. Because of this, it made Alibech self-
centered. Alibech came to enjoy immensely putting the Devil back into Hell.  At her
insistence, they had sex even when Rustico didn’t want to.  According to the United
Nations’ judgment of criminality, Alibech raped Rustico repeatedly.  Rustico became thin
and exhausted. In a symbolic transfer of Alibech’s fiery lust, her father’s house burned
down, killing him and all the family except for Alibech. Her lust was compared into the
symbolism of fire. The fire killed her father and all the family members. Her lust serves
as the fire that can kill.

3. How is a woman's sexuality and virginity seen by the early christians story of
ascetic holiness?

In the early Christians, sexuality and virginity is a quite important thing. women chose to
follow a spiritual life. They wanted to free themselves from worldly considerations so
that they could seek God, a goal that was consistent with orthodox Christian principles
and aspirations. The early Christians perceived woman’s sexuality and virginity as
being holy if they remain pure until such time, they are about to get married. The
ascetic holiness is a practice that denies for any sexual desires for others, which means
that early Christians believed that you are a holy one when you can resist from this
kind of temptation.For early Christians, the virginal ideal was a special way of life in
which one dedicates oneself wholly and permanently to God and His kingdom, which
was believed to be at hand. The power of asceticism during that time was so strong that
they really preserve their virginity and sexuality for God. They won’t deal in sex
whenever they are still not yet married. Women tend to preserve themelves until they get
married.

Sources: https://sites.udel.edu/britlitwiki/women-in-medieval-literature-and-society/
https://www.versobooks.com/blogs/3612-early-christian-virgins-on-sexuality-and-
virginity