Celestina: Authorship, Plot, and Themes
Celestina: A Masterpiece of Hispanic Literature
In the late fifteenth century, a masterpiece of Hispanic literature, Celestina, was published. It became a bestseller in the sixteenth century. In addition to Spain, it was printed in Castilian in other countries and translated into other languages. Regarding its authorship, it is now accepted that acts II to XXI are the work of Fernando de Rojas. The first act could be the work of Rodrigo Cota.
Plot Summary
The plot is relatively straightforward. In the original version of the comedy, Calisto, rejected by Melibea, relies on the advice of his servant Sempronius and the bawd Celestina. Celestina convinces Melibea to have an affair with Calisto. Sempronius and another of Calisto’s servants, Parmeno, demand their share of the spoils from the madam. She refuses, and they murder her, for which they are executed. While leaving Melibea, Calisto falls off a ladder and dies. Melibea, in turn, commits suicide by jumping from a tower of her house. Her father, Pleberio, laments what happened, blaming the world, fortune, and love.
In the 1502 version, the work is extended: the lovers do not die immediately after the first night of love, but their deaths occur overnight when Calisto comes to defend his servants. Elicia and Areusa, Celestina’s pupils and lovers of Parmeno and Sempronius, had sent thugs, eager for revenge.
Genre: Drama or Comedy?
Some critics regard Celestina as a drama because it consists only of characters’ words, without the intervention of a narrator. For others, it is a novel in dialogue that realistically parodies the sentimental novel, especially *Prison of Love*. La Celestina is situated in the context of humanistic comedy, which was read aloud in universities and not represented. It inherits the presentation of facts of the time, the action in different places, the uncertain duration of events, the long monologues, and anticlericalism.
Dramatic Modes of Discourse
- Dialogue: Alternating long and rhetorical interventions with large replies, with a quick verbal exchange (very short and to the point).
- Monologue: Incorporated for the expression of the characters’ loneliness and the exposition of their weaknesses, fears, and intentions.
- Aside: The mechanism of humor typical of Roman comedy is not always humorous in Celestina. In some cases, the second person hears nothing; in others, it calls to repeat the above; others pretend not to hear.
Treatment of Love and Key Themes
Parody of Courtly Love
At the beginning of the book, Calixto commits the first transgression of the rules of courtly love by skipping the waiting period, as the couple declares their love the first time Melibea finds herself alone. Also, the gentleman does not keep the secret; he tells his adventure to Sempronius and follows his advice by resorting to a panderer. Thus, lowering the figure of Melibea.
Magic
Celestina uses magic to get Melibea for Calisto. The bawd makes use of *philo-captia* practices, by which it was believed that love could bring about a passion (she conjures the devil).
Love Madness
The idea of love as madness also appears. By the time Rojas composed the work, this sentiment was viewed as a type of madness (Herero). That alienation will harm Melibea and lead to her suicide.
Sexual Love
Love is physical; the bawd insists not only on pleasure but also on the spiritual delight that results from sex. Sexuality becomes shared: the servant Lucrecia witnesses Melibea’s relations with Calisto, and Celestina wants to watch those of Parmeno and Areusa.
Rebuke to Love
After the accidental death of Calisto, Melibea commits suicide. This leads her father, Pleberio, to strike hard at love in a beautiful monologue at the end of the work.
Purpose of the Work
Some scholars say its intention is moralizing (bad madams, all just dead). Others point to a disillusioned and pessimistic vision of the world, and helplessness towards the destination.
Celestina’s Psychological Traits
- Clever: When talking, she knows how to manipulate, using a register to attract others.
- Flattering: She fawns over Melibea with compliments.
- Dominated by Lust: In her youth, she was a prostitute, spying on coitus.
- Cheating: She gets her profits by cheating and delusions.
- Evil: She refers to Pluto, god of the underworld, and is allied with him.
- Greedy: She promises a division but takes everything.