Reading stories in difficult times is a way to understand those times
This reminds me of the notion that a text's meaning can change every time you read it. The meaning I draw from a story usually depends on whatever is happening in my life at that specific moment.
What to make of all his playfulness at such a moment?
In times of suffering, we often turn to humor to lighten the mood. I know Gen Z made a lot of internet jokes about the pandemic, almost mocking the gravity of the situation.
that has been celebrated now for nearly 700 years.
It's amazing to me that the Decameron has been praised for that long. What about it makes it so important in the western canon? How do experiences 700 years ago compare to experiences now? Are there some stories so critical to the human condition that they're timeless?
en young people decide to quarantine outside Florence.
This is parallel to our current situation during the coronavirus pandemic. Presently, wealthy people are the ones quarantining at their vacation home, but unlike the Decameron, young people are the ones who are not obeying social distancing guidelines.