Giovanni and Lusanna: Love and Marriage in Renaissance Florence

Brucker uses Giovanni and Lusanna’s relationship to explore the rigidity of gender roles in fifteenth-century Florence. During that time, men had much more freedom than women. As a wealthy man, Giovanni lives independently and establishes a career as a banker. He also frequently travels internationally for business. In contrast, Lusanna’s life is confined to the neighborhood where she grew up. She has no career and must depend on men to provide for her. This dependence is two-sided, though. If a Florentine woman “misbehaves” by stepping out of the rigid mold set for her, her male kin are blamed. Brucker notes “the ideal of feminine chastity […] was guarded as jealousy by male relatives as was their property” (77-78).

The social disparity between men and women in Florence is especially evident in the city’s perceptions of adulterers. Throughout the trial, Giovanni openly admits that he pursued and consummated an adulterous affair with Lusanna. At that time, it was normal for bachelors like Giovanni to remain unmarried until they became established in their careers in their mid-30s. Though the Catholic Church forbids sex outside of marriage, aristocratic bachelors frequently sought sex from lower-class women, and their adulterous affairs were quietly overlooked. Giovanni maintains his honorable reputation throughout the trial, but Lusanna is condemned by her community.