Heptameron

After each story in The Heptameron, the storyteller usually concludes with their own moral of the story, affirming the fashion in which they presented the tale. However, in a significant departure from the structure of The Decameron, the analysis of the tale does not end with the storyteller; each story is followed with a lively debate between the members of the group, who often dissect the characters’ actions and motivations to judge their behavior. Debates often center on biblical principles or proper social norms according to French 16th-century society. As such, it is crucial to their project that the stories be “true”—sitting in judgment of real people and actions carries far more weight than a hypothetical humanist inquiry into a fictional account.

Oisille justifies the stories and debates by asserting that the exploration of human weaknesses, sometimes cruel and horrific, allows them to become more aware of their total reliance on God for truth and grace. It also allows the group to explore and debate the problem of truth and language, revealing to the reader the complexity of communication. Each debate has the effect of both questioning and undermining the storyteller. While the story might definitively present the so-called truth in one light, the group often sheds doubt on the facts and how they are presented, destabilizing the reliability of the narrator.