[Suicidal ideation and completed suicide in The Decameron].

Area of Science:

• Medieval Literature
• Psychology
• Social History

Context:

• Previous studies explored suicide in ancient Greco-Roman, Old Norse, and Finnish texts.
• These texts depicted suicide in response to social/environmental circumstances, sometimes without apparent mental disorder.
• The Decameron, written in 1349-51 during the Black Death, provides a rich source for examining medieval perspectives.

Purpose:

• To investigate suicidal ideation and completed suicide within a medieval Italian text.
• To specifically analyze the role of social and environmental triggers in these events.
• To extend understanding of suicide's historical context and potential independence from mental disorder.

Summary:

• An examination of Boccaccio's Decameron identified 9 accounts of suicidal ideation and 4 of completed suicide.
• All identified instances were directly linked to social stressors, with romantic problems being a prominent factor.
• The findings suggest suicide in response to social predicaments was a feature of medieval Italian culture.

Impact:

• Highlights the potential for suicide to occur independently of mental disorder, driven by social circumstances.
• Contributes to the historical understanding of suicide and its cultural interpretations.
• Suggests that social and environmental factors played a significant role in suicidal behavior during the medieval period.