Salvatore's Wretched Existence

The simple-minded servant's life of poverty, heresy, and superstition, ending in capture and death.

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A Life of Suffering

The Peasant's Lot Hunger and Hardship Salvatore was born into a poor peasant family. He experienced famine and disease. He wandered as a beggar, joining bands of vagrants. The Call of Heresy He was drawn to the preaching of the Fraticelli and later to Fra Dolcino. He found a sense of purpose in the promise of a better world. He became a follower of the Apostolic Brethren. Escape and Hiding After the fall of the Dolcinians, Salvatore fled with Remigio. They joined the Benedictine abbey, where Salvatore worked as a servant. He never fully understood the theological disputes, but he remained superstitious and fearful.

The Superstitious Fool

A Man of Babel The Language of Confusion Salvatore speaks a mixture of languages, reflecting his wandering life. He is both comic and pathetic. He believes in magic and spells. The Love Spell Salvatore tries to perform a love spell using a black cat and eggs. He brings a peasant girl to the abbey for this purpose. They are caught by Bernard Gui's archers. The Arrest Salvatore is arrested and interrogated. He betrays Remigio to save himself. He is taken to Avignon with the others. His fate is sealed.

Childhood and youth

During the story