Spanish Literature: Celestina, Manrique, and Lazarillo

Spanish Literary Masterpieces: Analysis

La Celestina: Versions and Genre

La Celestina exists in two main versions:

• Comedy: 16 acts, first edition in Burgos (1499).
• Tragicomedy: 21 acts, first edition in Zaragoza (1509).

Genre and Influences

It is classified as drama, inspired by 14th-century Italian humanistic comedy. In Celestina, elements of humanistic comedy are evident, such as:

• Simple plot structure.
• Focus on lower-class interests.
• Emergence of complex characters.

Authorial Intent and Interpretations

Written between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the work invites various critical readings:

• Christian Teaching: Critiques the destructive nature of Calisto's passionate love and its dire consequences.
• Judeo-Pessimist View: Suggests the author's converso status influences the notable absence of overt religious themes.
• Artistic Originality: Emphasizes the work's intrinsic artistic value beyond mere moral instruction.
• Social Criticism: Downplays the author's converso background through social commentary.

Key Characters and Style

Main characters include Calisto, Melibea, and the matchmaker, Celestina. The language and style are characterized by a mix of colloquial and cultured prose; the most important stylistic device is dialogue.

Philosophical Contexts

Neoplatonism: This involves the Christianized interpretation of Plato's ideas, where:

• Nature is treated as a reflection of divine perfection.
• Love is viewed positively, perfecting those who experience it.

Petrarchism: This movement takes its name from Francesco Petrarca, the most admired and imitated poet of the era.

Jorge Manrique: Elegiac Poetry

Jorge Manrique (born circa 1440–1479) produced court poetry typical of his time, where the theme of love often dominates.

The Elegy

The elegy is a lyric poem lamenting a person's death. Elegiac themes commonly found in his verses include:

• Mortality
• The passage of time
• Fame
• Fortune

Structure and Content (Example: Coplas)

As a funeral sermon, the work aims to teach and delight. The structure encourages reflection on life's fleeting nature:

• Part One: States that the goal of earthly life is to attain eternal life, as worldly assets are as transient as man himself.
• Part Two: Focuses on praising Don Rodrigo Manrique, drawing comparisons with classical figures renowned for their virtues.

Lazarillo de Tormes: The Picaresque Novel

Lazarillo de Tormes is considered the inception of the modern novel.

Structure and Narrative

The work employs an autobiographical structure, where the narrator attempts to convey the reality of the events. It consists of a prologue, in which Lázaro explains his motivations, and seven treatises.

Character and Society

Lázaro is the protagonist, and all other characters are viewed through his perspective. The novel ironically condemns the society it depicts due to its pervasive greed and hypocrisy.

Humanism in Literature

Humanism sought to revive the educational ideals of antiquity through the study of classical language arts.