Celestina: A 1499 Tragicomedy by Fernando de Rojas

Celestina: A 1499 Tragicomedy

Publication History

Celestina was published anonymously in 1499 as the Comedy of Calisto and Melibea, consisting of 16 acts. It was reissued a year later with a preliminary text revealing the author's name, Fernando de Rojas. Rojas claimed to have found Act 1 written by an unknown author and continued the work. In 1502, it was printed with new developments and titled Tragicomedy of Calisto and Melibea. This is the definitive text, later renamed La Celestina.

Genre and Style

Celestina is a dialogue work of considerable length. Some consider it a play, while others believe it is a dialogue novel. Traits such as free treatment of space and time, dramatic scenes, and parallel character design suggest it is more of a novel than a drama. The language and style combine scholarly and popular language. The characters speak according to their social condition, although some, like the matchmaker, may change their register depending on the social context or situation.

Main Characters

• Calisto

  A handsome, idle young man with good finances and inherited wealth. Driven by blind passion, he tries to conquer Melibea without scruples, using any means necessary. His speech is steeped in the rhetorical style of the courtly literature of the time, making him a parody of the hero in sentimental novels.

• Melibea

  A young woman from a good family who does not hide her passion and ultimately dies. Her rebellious character, honesty, and sincerity contrast with her lover's behavior.

• Pleberio and Alisa

  Minor characters, except that at the end of the play, they behave like parents unaware of their daughter's true feelings.

• Celestina

  The central character of the play, characterized as a magician or sorceress with knowledge of life and the human heart. Her wisdom is blinded by ambition, leading to her death.

• Servants and Prostitutes

  These characters reflect the dominance of instincts, selfish interests, and greed.

Content and Themes

The work reflects the mentality of late 15th-century Castilian society and the values of early capitalism.