ORCID
Anne C. Leone: 0000-0002-1536-0717
Document Type
Article
Date
10-15-2025
Keywords
Boccaccio, pregnancy, abortion, controlling fertility, contraception, theory and practice
Language
English
Disciplines
Communication | East Asian Languages and Societies | English Language and Literature | European Languages and Societies | French and Francophone Language and Literature | German Language and Literature | Italian Language and Literature | Latin American Languages and Societies | Linguistics | Sign Languages | Slavic Languages and Societies | Spanish and Portuguese Language and Literature
Description/Abstract
Analyzing examples from the Decameron (1349-51), De mulieribus claris (1361), and the Corbaccio (1365), I argue that Boccaccio (1313-75) demonstrates an awareness of theological, legal and medical opinions on abortion and contraception at the time. However, he is more attuned to the practical concerns of pregnancy than are many of his contemporaries. Acknowledging the variety of situations facing pregnant people and some parts of their lived experience that were ignored by many religious and legal authorities, Boccaccio highlights a disconnection between theory and practice, and thereby raises questions about the limits of abstract knowledge in the face of practical concerns.
Recommended Citation
Leone, A. C. (2025). Terminating pregnancies in Boccaccio. Forum Italicum, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/00145858251383121
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Included in
Communication Commons, East Asian Languages and Societies Commons, English Language and Literature Commons, European Languages and Societies Commons, French and Francophone Language and Literature Commons, German Language and Literature Commons, Italian Language and Literature Commons, Latin American Languages and Societies Commons, Linguistics Commons, Sign Languages Commons, Slavic Languages and Societies Commons, Spanish and Portuguese Language and Literature Commons
