La Celestina: Character Analysis and Key Themes

Characters in La Celestina

In the world of La Celestina, masters and servants coexist, with the matchmaker acting as the bridge between them. The clash between these groups, driven by the supremacy of money, self-interest, and material pleasures versus spiritual values, reflects a society in crisis. The characters, crafted by Fernando de Rojas, possess profound psychological depth and vitality.

The Noble Class

• Calisto: Suggests solitude and an absence of family ties. He is wealthy, lives for his own passions and interests, and is notably capricious.
• Pleberio: Melibea's father, a wealthy merchant who cares deeply about his daughter's education and attempts to console her after Calisto's death.
• Melibea: Initially bound by social conventions, her denial reflects the concept of honor. When she surrenders to love, she becomes strong and energetic, using lies to conceal her affair. She undergoes a significant transformation, evolving from a naive girl into a confident woman.

The Matchmaker

• Celestina: The central character who unites the others. She is noted for her intelligence, manipulative capacity, and meticulous planning. Her greed ultimately leads to her death, as her only true concern is her own gain.

The Servants and Associates

• Servants: They often resent their masters, seeking to rise in status through any means necessary, as they lack security in their current positions.
• Sempronio: Calisto's servant, characterized by greed and materialism. He acts as a double agent, serving his master while conspiring with the matchmaker.
• Pármeno: Initially a faithful servant who warns Calisto about the matchmaker. He eventually succumbs to the influence of Areúsa and his own desires, losing his moral conscience.
• Elicia and Areúsa: Pupils of the matchmaker. Elicia focuses on her beauty, while Areúsa argues that all people are equal, asserting that one's actions, not their bloodline, define their virtue.
• Lucrecia: Melibea's maid, who initially warns her mistress against the matchmaker but eventually conceals her encounters with Calisto.
• Centurio: A ruffian and servant to Calisto.

Key Themes

La Celestina reflects the social shifts of the late 15th century. Its primary themes include:

• Love: Manifested as an imitation and parody of courtly love, which quickly gives way to carnal pleasure.
• Death: Intricately linked to love; unbridled passion and greed lead directly to the murder of Celestina.
• The Transience of Life: The work is filled with references to the fleeting nature of pleasure and life, underscored by a heavy dose of pessimism.