The Tragicomedy of Celestina: A Tale of Love, Greed, and Death
The Tragicomedy of Celestina
Central Theme: Love and Pleasure
Love is the central theme, driving the characters’ actions and shaping their relationships. The story unfolds in two intertwined worlds: the servants and the masters, both united by the pursuit of love and sexual pleasure. The passionate, illicit love between Callisto and Melibea contrasts with the transactional relationships between Sempronius and Elicia, Parmeno and Areusa, and Areusa and Centurio. Sosia’s unrequited love for Lucrecia adds another layer to the exploration of love’s complexities. The play delves into various facets of love, including:
- Callisto and Melibea: Mad love, passion, obsession, deification, and betrayal.
- Sempronius, Elicia, Parmeno, and Areusa: Sexual passion, deceit, infidelity, and financial dependence.
Secondary Themes: Greed and Death
Greed and death are significant secondary themes. Sempronius and Celestina exploit Callisto’s love for personal gain. Celestina’s manipulation of Parmeno and Areusa through lust leads to betrayal and ultimately, death. Callisto’s folly and selfishness contribute to these tragic outcomes. Melibea’s death further underscores the destructive nature of unchecked passion. Humor also plays a role, with characters frequently mocking and insulting one another.
Other themes touched upon include:
- Disloyalty of servants
- Education of children
- Fortune and chance
- Witchcraft and magic
- Time and the transience of life
- A pessimistic view of life and self
Authorship and Genre
Fernando de Rojas is recognized as the author, although the Carta del autor a un amigo suyo suggests he found the first act pre-written. The work’s genre has been debated. Rojas called it a tragicomedy. Initially labeled a comedy with 16 acts, it later became known as a tragicomedy with 21 acts. Its length, numerous dialogues, frequent scene changes, and large cast of characters suggest it is a play meant to be read rather than performed. Some scholars consider it a humanistic comedy, while others propose it is a novel in dialogue or a dramatic novel due to its length, explicit content, slow pace, and unique handling of time and space. Modern criticism refutes these arguments.
Setting and Time
The play unfolds in an urban setting with dynamic and simultaneous action in different locations. The timeline, though seemingly spanning months, presents contradictions:
- Acts I-XV: Three days and part of another.
- A month’s delay.
- Acts XVI-XXI: A day and part of another.
Rojas’s Purpose and Personal Opinion
Rojas stated his intention was to warn against the dangers of mad love and untrustworthy servants, though the text may suggest otherwise. The work’s erotic themes, while seemingly explicit today, must be considered within the context of its time. The story’s predictability and the challenges of archaic Castilian language can make for a difficult read. However, the characters’ timeless struggles and the author’s moralizing message resonate even today. The pessimistic view, culminating in the deaths of the main characters, serves as a cautionary tale against societal rebellion. Celestina’s manipulative prowess and Callisto’s tragic fate are particularly striking. Overall, the work offers a unique perspective on love, morality, and societal norms in 15th-century Spain.