How is the humanist ideal reflected in Boccaccio's 'Decameron'?

Boccaccio, as a correspondent of Petrarch, was an early humanist. In “The Decameron”, the Black Plague forces people to make a decision regarding how they will live their lives. Some choose to live in stern obedience to God. Some drink continuously, indulging in any pleasure that appeals to them. Boccaccio’s “The Decameron” tells a story of seven women, and three men, who flea the city of Florence. They go to the countryside, where they live lives of pleasure and entertainment, yet they have a system for maintaining organization and morality. In comparison to the several different lifestyle choices people made during the Bubonic Plague, this one emphasizes moderation. Returning to the concept of humanism, I believe the focal characters choice a lifestyle that embodies this philosophy. The women first go about their days, praying and grieving the dead and dying. This is no way to live life. The true nature of humanity is to be productive and successful in the pursuit of happiness. Given the demoralizing plague that swept across Europe, and knowing of the seemingly infinite amount of death that was apparent on every street, would you agree that the “humanist” path of live might be one of sheer indulgence? So many died, there may not be any point in organization or lasting sustainability. I realize that this was the entire reason for the group’s retreating to the countryside, but even there, where the wind spread the sickness, can it be argued that the group could have stayed in Florence and lived lives equally defined as humanist? Ultimately, my question for you all is not whether the group made the right decision in leaving the city, but how this decision might compare to other lifestyles of the time, considering the humanist perspective of Boccaccio.

Explanation:

d is the correct answer