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Two girls- both live lives of innocence, naivet and simplicity. Both are dedicated and infatuated with their husbands who are diametrically opposite of themselves. Both, because of their unawareness of life experiences, are easily controlled and manipulated. Miranda, from Shakespeare's The Tempest, and Griselda, from Boccaccio's The Decameron, show several commonalities through their actions and behaviors in each of their distinct yet similar circumstances.
Miranda, a fifteen year old daughter of Prospero, who becomes the wife of Prince Ferdinand, is a young and innocent girl. She does not know any other life or have any other experiences with people since she has lived isolated on the enchanted island since the age of three with her father. She does not ever remember seeing the tainted society in which most people live, so therefore she has not been corrupted by it. The barren island on which Miranda and her father live is the only home/society that she has ever known. Since she knows no other life, her heart is pure and she possesses an abounding innocence. From her first lines about the shipwreck, "O, I have suffered / With those that I saw suffer! A brave vessel, / Who had, no doubt, some noble creature in her..." (I.ii.6-7), her gentle and sympathetic nature as well as her willingness to think the best about people is exemplified. When Miranda first sees Ferdinand she describes him as "A thing divine, for nothing natural / I ever saw so noble"(I..4-500) and not just "a goodly person"(I.ii.46) as Prospero had suggested.
Like Miranda, Griselda also is a youthful and naïve girl who has no real life understanding. She is a plebe that lives with her father and looks after sheep. She too knows no other home/society than that of the innocent and uninitiated. She has no familiarity with the life that Marquis Gualtieri lives, "a young bachelor without issue of his own, who devoted his time entirely to his hawking and hunting" (Boccaccio 668). But
Gualtieri had long been taken with [the] penniless young girl from a neighboring village; she was a real beauty, he thought, and with her he could expect a trouble-free life. So he looked no further but settled upon her and, sending for her father, arranged with him- a quite destitute man- to take his daughter to wife (Boccaccio 66).
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Gualtieri "asked her whether, if he took her for his wife, she would always strive to please him and never object to anything he did or said, and whether she would be obedient, and a whole lot of other things; to each one of which she answered yes" (Boccaccio 670). "This gentleman', said Gualtieri, 'is the woman I propose to make my wife, if she wishes me for her husband.'(Boccaccio 670) He [then] turned to her then, as she stood there blushing, her heart in her mouth, and asked 'Griselda, would you like me for your husband?' 'Yes, sir' " (Boccaccio 670) was the reply from Griselda showing her innocence for never questioning the motives and her openness to let others into her life.
The definition of dedication is setting aside for a particular purpose. Miranda carries out that definition through her actions towards others especially Ferdinand, her soon to be husband. Miranda's simplicity and innocence is what gives her elevated allure. She has obtained an amazing and refined education without the crooked pressures of civilization- the best of both worlds. Because of Miranda's wholesome heart and unsophisticated nature due to the lack of knowledge of social norms, she easily discloses her true emotions to all. She does not know how or why to be timid, and as a result is visibly straightforward with her feelings towards Ferdinand. Her assertiveness is in part what wins over his heart. In Miranda's marriage proposal to Ferdinand she declares, "I am your wife if you will marry me. / If not, I'll die your maid. To be your fellow / You may deny me, but I'll be your servant / Weather you will or no" (III.i.100-10) here demonstrating her faithfulness and honesty. She is willing to defy Prospero after he has told her not to speak to Ferdinand and enthusiastically expresses her devotion to him saying "…[she] would not wish / Any companion in the world but [him], / Nor can imagine form shape / Besides yourself to like of. But [she] prattle / Something too wildly, and [her] father's precepts / [she] therein do forget" (III.i.65-70).
"Griselda was, moreover, so obedient and attentive to her husband that he considered himself the most satisfied, most contented of men. Towards her husband's subjects too, she was so gracious and kind that she acquired the devotion of one and all and their unstinting respect" (Boccaccio 671). Griselda as well exemplifies the definition of dedication especially to her husband. Further into the story we witness the "experiment" (Boccaccio 671) that Gualtieri tests her devotion to him with. She is able to go through all the pressures and stresses the he places on his wife and she remains loving and faithful. She expresses her devotion saying, "Pray, sir, do with me whatever you think best for your honour and peace of mind; I shall be quite content, for I know I am of lower birth than they and that I'm not worthy of this honour to which, out of your kindness, you have called me" (Boccaccio 67). Because of personal interaction dynamics she learned as a result of her cloistered upbringing, she like Miranda, is unwaveringly faithful and honest which opens people's hearts to her. "It was not long before she had effectively inspired the whole world- and not merely the neighborhood under her husband's rule- to speak of her qualities and her exemplary conduct; she also confuted any who might have criticized her husband at the time he married her" (Boccaccio 671).
Because of Miranda's naivet and unawareness of life experiences beyond the shores of the enchanted island, she is easily subjected to outside manipulation and control. She seems to lead not her own life but a life that her father has planned out for her. Miranda's life is that of a marionette puppet. She is Pinocchio and Prospero is the puppet master. The relationship between Miranda and Prospero is not one that reminds the reader of a father and daughter bond but rather is reminiscent of the parallel between master and servant. This relationship is revealed as Miranda questions "…I pray you, sir- / For still 'tis beating in my mind your reason / For raising this sea storm" (I.ii.0-11). Prospero answers,
Know thus far forth / By accident most strange, bountiful Fortune, / Now my dear lady, hath mine enemies brought to this shore; and by my prescience / I find my zenith doth depend upon / A most auspicious star, whose influence / If now I court not, but omit, my fortunes / Will ever after droop. Hers cease more questions. / Thou art inclined to sleep. 'Tis a good dullness, / And give it way. I know thou canst choose (I.ii.1-1).
Prospero's speaks of his control over Miranda again when Ferdinand and Miranda first meet and he says that "[his plan] goes on, [he sees], / As [his] soul prompts it" (I.ii.501-50).
Manipulation and control are demonstrated once again in Griselda's story. The relationship resembles that of master and servant. Griselda identifies Gualtieri as "master" and "sir". Her inexperience in inclusive life experiences as she is with Gualtieri makes her susceptible to oppressive behavior. She caters to his every need and puts her self aside even when it is not in her best interest. The relationship between Miranda and Prospero in The Tempest is a mirror image of the connection in The Decameron between Griselda and Gualtieri. When Gualtieri orders for their fist born child to be killed, Griselda follows his orders promptly. "Here', she said, 'do exactly what your master and mine has commanded. But don't leave her to be devoured by the birds and beasts, unless he commands you to do so" (Boccaccio 67). She tells Gualtieri to "just think of [his] own needs, sir, and [his] own satisfaction, and don't bother [him]self at all about [her] there's only one thing that [she] case[s] about and that is [his] happiness" (Boccaccio 67).
Even though the story lines from Shakespeare's The Tempest and Boccaccio's The Decameron have nothing in common, it is simple to draw shared characteristics between Miranda and Griselda and the story surrounding their lives. We are able to see, because of the manner in which they were brought up, that Miranda and Griselda are simple, innocent and inexperienced. Because of their naivet and inexperience they are easily susceptible to control yet work though the manipulation and in spite of everything are still devoted and faithful to those that they love.
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