h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Doesn't really sound like rape then does it? Much more like seduction.

No, I'd say it was rape. He led the victim to believe that he was her husband - then he positively crowed about his true identity and taunted her too. 'Seduction' usually involves some degree of interest in the person as a person.

True. But if she agreed to return appearances afterward, then she's consenting, so it's not rape.

Subsequent events aren't - but the first one certainly is.

Did she enjoy herself?

Certainly not when she found out what had happened.

Then why did she agree to come back?

That's the bit the modern mindset just can't fathom. In literary terms the character has been made to do some thoroughly improbable things; if the story were written today it simply wouldn't be possible to publish it.

Maybe you're just misinterpreting her behavior.

In what way?

If person X forces him/herself on person Y because person Y would not voluntarily agree to person X's demands - well, that's rape. It's as simple as that.

My problem isn't so much with what the female character does after the event, as with the fact that - within the context of the story - rape is presented as acceptable. This is where the modern viewpoint is well out of sympathy with the medieval viewpoint.

Well the way you describe it, person Y is not being forced into anything.

No, I agree with Ivan. She was misled and that makes it wrong. Whether or not she decides after that she's going to do it again doesn't really have bearing on the first time I don't think. It's very odd that she agrees to repeat it.... I'd like to read the tale if you can recall which day it is?
I agree it's very surprising to the modern reader... In fact I'm rather wondering how it was acceptable to the medieval reader. Perhaps I just don't know enough about the medieval mindset yet

And why do we assume it was acceptable to a medieval reader?

I would assume because of the reaction of the ten young people that are characters in the frame. I haven't actually read the story though, so I'm not sure.

The story: third day, sixth story; it's told by Fiammetta.

I'll be interested to know how you respond.

Thank's Ivan I'll read that today and get back to you

The one about the nuns was very odd. I guess I'm just not used to people talking about nuns like that

Yes, that one was peculiar. But it can be seen as a criticism of the church (again) for insisting on celibacy and seclusion. At the time, only a minority of monks and nuns would have been genuinely devout; the others would have been there because they were effectively surplus to the needs of their families - and not necessarily devoted to celibacy.

Or maybe I'm looking too deeply, and the story was just a cheap laugh about an easy target.

No, I think you're right. I foolishly didn't realise until told in class today that people were sent to be nuns and not necessarily everyone wanted to be. In that light it makes much more sense. But I think perhaps its a good poke at the church and a bit of fun. It seemed slightly improbable to me that /none/ of the nuns were devout.

I'm finding this book a constant revelation to me. I was quite shocked that a book from the 1350's would have all these kinds of stories and then was further shocked by the story about putting the devil back in hell. I wonder if girls were really that ignorant.... or innocent. Growing up in the time we do now I find it very hard to imagine.

I think the innocence mght be slightly exaggerated.

The thing is, the medieval appetite for scandal is rather like the modern appetite. We probably wouldn't be so startled by medieval smut if it weren't for the Victorian Age getting in the middle with its excessive prudery and puritanism.

Anyway, I feel rather unwell this evening so I'll be having an early night. If I can't sleep there's every chance I'll get through another day's worth of Decameron... Yes it is shocking in parts, tasteless in parts and really rather startling now that I've found a translation I can cope with, but I'm enjoying it immensely.

I'm really enjoying it too!

But talking about the story we were talking about before... Is there a difference between rape and sleeping with someone under false pretences?

I think you're right about the Victorian Age. It does make things rather confusing. I don't know why but for some reason it makes me think that everything was like that before it.