Celestina: A Dramatic Analysis of Characters and Structure

Celestina: A Dramatic Analysis

Celestina: A dialogical work (without voice-over), dramatic in character, though probably not intended to be represented, but read out in 25 acts. It is also known as El alta. It is divided first by the other anonymous author, then written by Fernando de Rojas, a Toledan convert.

Structure

Approach: Act 1

Argument: Calisto loves Melibea and is rejected by her. He expresses despair to Sempronius, his servant, who suggests using an old bawd whose name was Celestina. Sempronius and Celestina, who is later joined by Parmeno—another servant of Callisto—are associated for the economic benefit of the young man.

Development: Acts II-XVIII

Argument: Celestina, through a spell and her ability to persuade, awakens love in Melibea for Calisto. Parmeno and Sempronius arrange a claim to their share of the matchmaker's loot: a gold chain to give to Calisto. Upon refusal of this, they kill her and are therefore executed. On the other hand, there is an erotic encounter between the lovers.

Outcome: Acts XIX-XXI

Argument: Calisto is accidentally killed by falling from the top of Melibea's garden. She commits suicide after telling what happened to her father, Pleberio. The work ends with a long lament by Pleberio before the corpse of his daughter.

Characters

The characters live in very distinct conditions.

Gentlemen

Calisto: A moody and impatient young man. In his words and disorderly conduct are the principles of love parody cuts. His passion for Melibea is almost exclusively carnal.

Melibea: A beautiful young woman, also given to erotic passion. She proves her love and soul by committing suicide after Calisto's death.

Pleberio and Alisa: Melibea's parents, unaware of their daughter's love.

The Servants

Sempronius and Parmeno: Calisto's servants, whose motivation is greed. Sempronius, a confidant of Calisto, despises his master. Parmeno, younger, initially guards his loyalty, but the pimp corrupts him with the prostitute Areusa.

Tristan and Sosia: Calisto's servants after the death of Sempronius and Parmeno.

Marginal World

Celestina: Intelligent and manipulative, dominating at will the rest of the characters. She was a prostitute in her youth and now is a witch and bawd.

Elicia and Areusa: Disciples of Celestina and lovers, respectively, of Sempronius and Parmeno.

Celestina's Issues

The pimp has a very pessimistic view of the world in which human beings are slaves or victims of their lust.

The passions that drive the main characters are mostly:

• Greed, which leads to the death of Celestina, Sempronius, and Parmeno.
• Lust, the cause of Parmeno's corruption and death.