“Ricercate la giustizia, difendete la causa della vedova”. Vedove e giustizia nella novellistica, tra diritto alla protezione e controllo morale (XIV-XVIo secolo)

Abstract

This article focuses on the representation of the relation between widows and justice in the novella from the late Middle-Ages. As an incarnation of the weak citizen, widows were theoretically protected by judicial institutions especially against economic abuses. In the novella though, widows are often presented in an erotic way and their interactions with legal authorities often become a moralistic trial against themselves, leading to the loss of their honour and public reputation. The only exceptions are the cases of private justice, and/or when a man close to the judge is involved. The widow, despite the fact that she’s described as very vulnerable, is judged for her conduct instead of being protected against the offence she suffers. This element shows an ambiguous representation of justice, more worried about the preservation of moral standards than the citizens’ safety and the respect of the law.