She talked about the freshness and cleanliness of everything in the countryside. She told him that he should live in the country and that, if he lived there, all of his problems would be city-related.
-Nathanael WEST, Miss Lonelyhearts ( 1933)
The rural landscapes of Western literature have been compared to Eden’s Garden in Genesis. They can be a source of spirituality and beauty as well as an escape to a world that is sinful. In Giovanni Boccaccio’s The Decameron citizens from Florence flee the plague-ridden city to the peace and safety of rural France. The narrator from Saint Augustine’s Confessions has his most important spiritual experience in a Milanese garden.
Boccaccio begins The Decameron by describing the plague that has ravaged Florence.
All sick people were forbidden entry and many instructions were issued to safeguard the health of the citizens, but it was all in vain. (I. Intro)
This passage describes how sin is prevalent in the city. “Officials”, “sick people” and “numerous instruction” are all possible interpretations of “officials”. “All in vain” is a reference to the fact that despite church efforts, sin and ugliness still exist within the city.
However, a group of young citizens in Florence met in a local church before physically leaving it to visit the countryside. It is also important that they “do not go near any roads.” Intro) There,
The young men with their lovely companions walked slowly through a garden, talking about pleasant topics and weaving garlands from leaves of different trees for eachother. They also sang love songs. (I. Intro)
Florence was described in the past with words such as “pleasant”, “fair” and “love”. These words are in stark contrast. The image of young men conversing with their “fair companions” is pure, chaste and pre-lapsarian. The use of words like “garden,””garlands,”and “leaves of trees” emphasizes natural elements.
They began to argue that Paradise could only be built in one form.
Boccaccio may be suggesting that Paradise exists on Earth. The countryside, he says, is a perfect example of humanity. Boccaccio believes that the garden’s description is true, despite its seemingly perfect beauty.
The perfect Garden is created in the Fifth Story on Day 10 without God. Dianora, in this story, asks Ansaldo to create a garden for May, something she thinks is impossible. Ansaldo, on the other hand, hires a magician to create one of the prettiest gardens, complete with fruits and plants of every kind. Boccaccio demonstrates his religious skepticism in this text by creating a garden that is not divinely inspired.
Saint Augustine is not able to create the perfect garden in The Decameron. Augustine steals the pear off a grapevine tree in Book II.
The fruit we took was beautiful because you made it, God, who is the best, God of highest good, and I am the true good.
Augustine as a person damages God’s work; like Adam in Genesis, Augustine cannot live a life without sin. Augustine stresses that he didn’t act alone. He was encouraged by others. This shows the negative effect that humans have on one another. Augustine does not describe the pear in the same way Boccaccio did, but rather describes it as God’s work. Saint Augustine’s strong religion is contrasted with Boccaccio, who believes that humans are capable of functioning well on their oown.
Augustine’s religious confusion is revealed in Confessions. But where he’s living, a large garden is there:
My heart shook and I ran out into the garden to fight my own battle. No one could disturb me until I was satisfied. (VIII. Vii (19))
Augustine’s spiritual breakthrough will only be possible if he can get away from other people’s sins. Augustine can only make spiritual progress when he is removed from the sins and mistakes of others. Alypius’ presence is not detrimental. The “burning battle” is a description of the pain, anguish and difficulty in breaking free from sin. Augustine attempts to break free from sin, but fails. After hearing a voice instructing him to pick up a book and read, Augustine finally experiences conversion. Xi. (29) He reads from the Word of God and comes to the same conclusion: the sins of city-dwellers have prevented him from achieving perfection.
Not in drunken parties or riots. In eroticism, indecency and in conflict.
(Rom. 13: 13-14) (VIII. Xi. (29))
The countryside can only be described as perfect. Only there can humans hope to reach perfection. They can commune with God’s work and be away from others.
