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The Final focus of this essay is to highlight the distinct changes in the society and culture of the city-state caused by both the decline of the population and the effects caused by the emergence of the plague itself. Boccaccio’s account offers a strong insight into the many effects of the plague on the inhabitants of Florence. One of the most immediate examples of the changes in Florentine society was the change in human behavior psychology. Many survivors dealt with the large population drop in different ways. There were many recorded changes in human behavior when the plague came, peasants stopped plowing, merchants closed their shops and churchmen stopped offering last rights due to fear of the plague. Boccaccio recorded some the types of this change in behavior within the Decameron, writing:
Because of such happenings and many others of a like sort, various fears and superstitions arose among the survivors, almost all of which tended toward one end to flee from the sick and whatever had belonged to them. In this way, each man is thought to be safeguarding his health. Some among them thought that by living temperately and guarding against excess of all kinds, they could do much towards avoiding the danger; and in forming a band they lived away from the rest of the world. Gathering in those houses where no one had been ill and living was more comfortable, they shut themselves in. They ate moderately of the best that could be had and drank excellent wines, avoiding all luxuriousness they lived together in this fashion, allowing no one to speak to them and avoiding news of either death or sickness from the outer world.
Others, arriving at a contrary conclusion, held that plenty of drinking and enjoyment, singing and free living and the gratification of the appetite in every possible way, letting the devil take the hindmost, was the best preventative of such a malady; and as far as they could, they suited the action to the word. Day and night, they went from one tavern to another, drinking and carousing unrestrainedly. At least inkling of something that suited them, they ran wild in other people’s houses, and there was no one to prevent them, for everyone had abandoned all responsibility for his belongings as well for himself, considering his days numbered. Consequently, most houses had become common property and strangers would make use of them at will whenever they came upon them even as the rightful owners might have done. Following this uncharitable way of thinking, they did their best to run away from the infected.
The large drop in population also affected many occupations and led to an increase in wages as previously mentioned. The Black Death also took its toll on artists during this period. Many influential artists such as Bernardo Daddi and his associate who was titled “Assistant of Daddi.” The Black Death also affected many minor artists of the time, which disrupted the pictorial tradition. However, it also led to younger artists of this time gaining a sense of individualism and also led to the development of new styles. However, these changes are not directly seen in the immediate future, as many paintings remain unfinished or incomplete, leaving questions about the impact of the Black Death on the art world.
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