La Celestina: Characters, Themes, and Structure
La Celestina: Tragicomedy of Calisto and Melibea
La Celestina, initially published as *Comedia de Calisto y Melibea* and later as *Tragicomedia de Calisto y Melibea*, is a work published in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. The 1502 edition expanded the original work to 21 acts. A later version, published in Toledo in 1526, added another act.
Author: Fernando de Rojas
Fernando de Rojas was born in Toledo around 1473, into a family of converted Jews. There is debate about the authorship of *La Celestina*, with some attributing the first act to an anonymous “old author,” while Rojas is credited with the rest. The work is considered a humanistic comedy, intended for reading aloud among educated groups.
Plot and Themes
The plot of *La Celestina* revolves around the passionate love of Calisto and Melibea. Key themes include:
- Love
- Death
- Greed
- Fate
Structure
La Celestina is divided into twenty-one acts, with several preambles. The structure features an omniscient, objective narrative, with a clear introduction and denouement.
Literary Narrative
Elements of the Narrative
- Characters: Figures created by the author, who must be believable.
- Narrative Action: The events that occur.
- Space: The setting of the action.
- Time: The period in which the events take place.
- Narrator: The voice telling the story.
Characters
Characters can be real (based on historical figures) or fictitious (created by the narrator).
Narrative Action
Consists of all the events that unfold in the story. Related concepts include plot, intrigue, and structure. Structure can be:
- Chronological
- In medias res (starting in the middle)
- Starting at the end
- Closed or Open
- Simple or Complex
Space
The setting significantly influences the characters and their behavior.
Time
Time is a crucial element. The duration of events can make time pass more or less quickly.
Types of Prose
Historical Prose
Spanish historical prose was influenced by humanist doctrines. Notable authors include Diego Hurtado de Mendoza and Jerónimo de Zurita. Objectivity is a fundamental characteristic.
Didactic Prose
Cultured humanists imitated Latin models. Didactic prose reflected the concerns of the time, such as heroism. Key figures include the Valdés brothers (known for dialogue on language) and Juan Huarte de San Juan (known for *Examen de ingenios para las ciencias*).
Religious Prose
Notable authors and works include:
- Fray Luis de León: Known for both poetry and prose works like *La Perfecta Casada*.
- Santa Teresa de Jesús: Author of *El Libro de la Vida*, *Las Fundaciones*, and *Camino de Perfección*.
Prose Fiction
Two main types:
- Idealistic Novel: Set in fantastic landscapes. Examples include chivalric romances, Moorish novels, and Byzantine novels.
- Realistic Novel: Aims to accurately reflect the real world, moving away from traditional heroes. A key example is the picaresque novel.
Count Lucanor
Composed in 1335, *El Conde Lucanor* is a collection of fifty-one exemplary tales. The structure is consistent: the young Count Lucanor consults his advisor, Patronio, about a problem. Patronio responds with a story that provides a moral lesson applicable to the Count’s situation. Don Juan Manuel, the author, then summarizes the moral. A notable example of the picaresque novel is *Lazarillo de Tormes*, where the protagonist, the son of dishonored parents, narrates his own life, including his petty thefts, with great realism.