# Conclusion of the Author explained — The Decameron > Chapter companion for The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio. ## What happens The author concludes the Decameron, defending his work against potential criticisms regarding its licentiousness, length, and frivolity. He argues that the stories are told in seemly terms, suited to their audience of idle ladies, and that any harm depends on the reader's disposition. He thanks God and the ladies for their support and bids them farewell. ## Themes in this chapter ### The Power of Storytelling The author defends the value of his stories, arguing they can both harm and profit depending on the reader's disposition, and that they are intended for the solace of idle women. ### Religion and Hypocrisy The author criticizes friars for their hypocrisy, noting that they 'eschew unease for the love of God' but are not above reproach, and defends his own truthful portrayals of them. ### Gender and Power The author explicitly addresses his work to women, defending its content as suitable for their leisure and arguing that modest women can read it without harm, challenging contemporary norms. ## Character check-ins ### Dioneo Referenced indirectly as one of the storytellers; the author defends the tales as recounted by the brigata. ### Pampinea Implied as part of the group of ladies for whom the work was written. ### Fiammetta Implied as part of the audience; the author addresses 'charming ladies' collectively. ### Lauretta Implied as part of the audience; the author addresses 'charming ladies' collectively. ### Filostrato Implied as part of the storytellers; the author defends the tales as recounted by the brigata. ### Pamfilo Implied as part of the storytellers; the author defends the tales as recounted by the brigata. ## Key lines > I confess to being a man of weight and to have been often weighed in my time, wherefore, speaking to those ladies who have not weighed me, I declare that I am not heavy; nay, I am so light that I abide like a nutgall in water I admit I am a serious man and have been judged as such, but to those who haven't judged me, I say I am not serious at all—I am as light as a nutgall floating on water. _The author uses a pun on 'weight' to defend the lightness of his stories._ > Corrupt mind never understood word healthily, and even as seemly words profit not depraved minds, so those which are not altogether seemly avail not to contaminate the well-disposed A corrupt mind cannot understand words in a healthy way; just as proper words don't help depraved minds, improper words don't corrupt virtuous ones. _The author argues that the morality of his stories depends on the reader's character._ > What books, what words, what letters are holier, worthier, more venerable than those of the Divine Scriptures? Yet many there be, who, interpreting them perversely, have brought themselves and others to perdition. Even the most holy scriptures can be misinterpreted and lead to ruin, so my stories are no different. _The author compares his work to the Bible to justify potential misinterpretations._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters/conclusion-of-the-author - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_decameron_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_decameron_se/chapters