La Celestina: psychological characterization of its characters

The Celestina It is a literary work surrounded by questions. That’s why it’s so interesting, especially when it comes to its characters. All of them present a specific psychological characterization that dresses them and makes them have an essential role in the work.

Focusing on the characters that Fernando de Rojas designed with so much care and care is a traditional way of approaching this work of literature considered a tragicomedy, as the article states Images and Anagnorisis in Celestina.

Generalities about the work

The Celestina It is included in the dramatic genre. However, it could also be classified as a comic work with a tragic outcome. It is dialogued, without a narrator and there is only a general plot in each act. In addition, there is also room for monologues that are used so that the characters can penetrate deeper into their souls and so that the audience knows their true nature.

For its part, A very striking element of this literary classic is the language it uses. And this work appeared at a time of crisis in noble society, in which two very diverse literary movements were coexisting: the medieval world and the Renaissance. Therefore, the cultured and popular imprints converge in this work and will determine both its language and its style.

Thus, In La Celestina we identify a language that moves between the cultured and the popular. Latinizing elements abound, but the speech of some characters is also loaded with popular elements such as worldly expressions or proverbs. However, cultured and Latin expressions are usually used in the mouths of the richest characters to give them an air of greater rank.

The characters in La Celestina

In The Celestina we can meet 13 characters who have a significant role in the development of the work. Although the lovers, Melibea and Calisto, are the central axis of this entire tragicomedy, the other figures that appear also have their importance.

The garden of Calisto and Melibea, in Salamanca.

The Celestina

La Celestina is an elderly person famous for achieving, through certain tricks, that two people can be together.. However, despite that help, which in this work she provides to Calisto so that Melibea falls in love with him, Celestina is a woman who is characterized by:

Have no scruples.Seek only your own interest.Have a great capacity for persuasion.Be lustful.

Melibea

Melibea is one of the protagonists of The Celestina; At first we see how Calisto is not attracted to him. The clear rejection that manifests It is observed in a notable arrogance and even arrogance. However, after the help that Calisto receives from Celestina, the change he presents is sudden and surprising.

Go from rejection to the most absolute surrender, where she is the one who is proactive to secretly meet Calisto. Thus, she ends up falling into the extremism of romantic love, a term that the article addresses. The concept of love in a couplewhich leads her to an unfortunate end.

Callisto

Calisto falls in love with Melibea and what moves him is not love, but getting what he wants. This makes him a selfish person who does whatever it takes (going to Celestina) to achieve what he longs for without caring about the consequences.

This makes appear as an insecure and immature person. We are talking about a young dreamer who does not handle the frustration of his expectations very well. When these are not met, he falls into crisis due to the resistance put up by, in this case, Melibea.

Parmeno and Sempronio

Pármeno is Calisto’s servant; His character responds to that of a loyal character who strives to take care of his lord: he warns her of the danger that may entail placing his trust in Celestina. However, this loyalty collapses because Calisto humiliates him and does not believe what he tells her.

Sempronio, for his part, is another servant of Calisto who is represented as a liar with false intentions. Unlike Pármeno, from the beginning he takes advantage of his master trying to get as much money as possible from him. Keeping appearances, yes.

Sosia and Tristan

Sosia and Tristán are Calisto’s faithful servants who, before, were stable boys. Sosia is presented as a person who falls blindly in love, because He falls in love with Areúsa, who manipulates him to extract information about his owner.

Besides, Tristán is presented as a very attached servant who suffers a lot when Calisto dies.. Both Tristán and Sosia are Calisto’s friends, more than servants. A pure friendship, without hidden intentions.

Lucretia

Lucrecia is Melibea’s maid and is a faithful confidant.. They both tell each other everything that happens to them, especially in the field of love, thus feeling accompanied in their troubles and misadventures. Thanks to Lucrecia, Calisto and Melibea can see each other every night.

Lucrecia was a prostitute, but she decided to change her life and dedicate herself to serving. However, his character is the archetype of an envious person. She feels jealous of her former companions and, also, of the romantic encounters that Melibea has with Calisto.

Elicia and Areúsa

Elicia is a prostitute from Celestina who has an impulsive, contradictory and carefree character. This character lives in the present. However, when she dies, her guardian seeks revenge, because she feels alone and finished.

Areúsa is another of Celestina’s prostitutes. Contrary to Elicia, this character is characterized as independent, free and spiteful. He is very similar to Celestina, since he knows how to manipulate others.. She does it with his partner, Centurio.

Centurion

Centurio lives off prostitutes, what is known today as a thug. He is characterized as a pimp, spoiled, somewhat lustful and a liar.. He usually uses prostitutes to get what he wants.

Although he presents himself as a person who imposes his presence, due to his bad character and size, in reality that bravery is just a facade. In the background, He is a cowardly character.

La Celestina is one of the most iconic works of the 15th century.

Pleberio and Alisa

Pleberio is Melibea’s father and he presents himself as a very old man which is always very busy. When Melibea dies, his life loses all meaning. He is a character who is very worried about his daughter, especially because he wants her to get married.

Alisa is Melibea’s mother. She has a secondary role, since she is in the shadow of her husband. She is a rather naive character who distrusts no one. In fact, he lets Celestina into her house.

The evolution of the characters

The psychological characterization of the characters in this work by Fernando de Rojas is very varied; however, it is what allows an evolution to be clearly perceived.

They all change. Melibea goes from rejection to the most absolute love for Calisto, Elicia goes from complete carelessness to the search for revenge for Celestina’s death. Each one has an important and fundamental role. Have you read the book of The Celestina? What do you think about the profile of these characters?

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