La Celestina: Analysis of Fernando de Rojas' Masterpiece

La Celestina: A Masterpiece of Hispanic Literature

Published in the late fifteenth century, La Celestina is a masterpiece of Hispanic literature. It is now widely accepted that the acts are the work of Fernando de Rojas, though the first act may have been written by Rodrigo Cota.

Argument of the Work

The plot of La Celestina is straightforward. In the original version, Calisto pursues Melibea, rejecting the advice of his servant Sempronio and the bawd Celestina. Well-rewarded by Calisto, Celestina convinces Melibea to have an affair with him. Sempronio and Pármeno demand their share of the spoils from the madam; when she refuses, they murder her. Upon leaving, Calisto falls from a ladder and dies. Melibea commits suicide by throwing herself from a tower, leaving her father to lament the cruelty of fortune and the world.

In the 1502 version, the work is extended. The lovers do not die immediately after their first night; instead, deaths occur later when Calisto goes to defend his servants from thugs sent by Elicia and Areúsa, the pupils of Celestina.

Key Characters

• Calisto: Initially a comic character representing parodied courtly love, his madness transforms into real passion.
• Melibea: The true tragic character. She discovers her love through Celestina and feels no repentance for her actions, only regret for the pain caused to her parents.
• Celestina: The bawd. Physically, she is described as wrinkled and bearded, with a face scratched by the devil.
• Sempronio and Pármeno: Calisto's servants. Sempronio represents the false servant of Roman comedy, while Pármeno is a complex character who evolves from fidelity to disloyalty.
• Elicia and Areúsa: Prostitutes and friends of Celestina, whose relationship contrasts with that of the lovers.
• Pleberio and Alisia: Melibea's parents, who gain relevance in the final acts.

Linguistic Features

Suprasegmental Elements

Intonation, accents, tone, and rhythm are determinative in the meaning of the messages.

Complexity of Statements

The text features frequent anacolutha, syntactic displacement, and a mixture of styles.

Discourse Markers

The frequent use of markers such as "therefore," "then," and "well" reflects a tendency toward the condensation found in spontaneous conversation.

Conversational Characteristics

• Lack of planning: Themes are not previously established and dialogues may cover various subjects.
• Alternation and Influence: Emitters and receivers exchange roles, influencing the construction of the statement.
• Principles of Cooperation: Interventions and speaking time are governed by principles of cooperation and courtesy.