Landolfo Rufolo in the Age of Social Media: Sailing Different Seas Between Chaos and Compassion

This proposal offers a contemporary reinterpretation of Boccaccio's tale of Landolfo Rufolo (Decameron II.4), transposing the original's metaphorical sea of the Mediterranean into the chaotic, unpredictable expanse of the digital era. Landolfo’s tale, marked by loss, survival, and redemption, resonates with the digital age’s potential to turn setbacks into opportunities, highlighting the enduring human capacity for resilience. Central to this narrative of recovery is the figure of the compassionate woman who rescues Landolfo. Her quiet, selfless act underscores the potential for humanity and virtue within systems rife with instability and competition. In the context of social media, she symbolizes the pivotal role of empathy and solidarity, offering a counterbalance to the chaos of online spaces. Her intervention reminds us of the importance of individual agency in fostering meaningful connections and mitigating the isolating effects of modern digital life. By employing the sea as a metaphor, this proposal aims to explore how unpleasant events—both in Boccaccio's time and in our own—can lead to growth, transformation, and unexpected bonds. The guiding question is: in an age of digital tumult, what lessons can Boccaccio's tale teach us about navigating chaos and embracing the redemptive power of compassion?