Celestina Day Five

Act 20 - Did it surprise you when Melibea commits suicide or were you expecting it? Were you expecting her to go through with it or did you think Melibea's father would somehow stop her?

 

It did surprise me a little bit that Melibea committed suicide.  To be honest, I did not really expect it.  At first, Melibea had very strong feelings for Calisto.  However, those feelings were more so that of puppy love or the rush of a new relationship; her feelings were not of genuine love.  I had assumed that once Calisto and Melibea had sex, their attraction would wear off.  Calisto had this idealized image of Melibea which he said was not there anymore after he actually had her.  I was not expecting Melibea to go through with the suicide because I figured that she understood that Calisto and her were not meant to be.  It was also shocking that Melibea's father did not stop her.  Throughout the entire romance, her father has being extremely controlling, and he tried to tell her how to live her life.  Therefore, it made no sense that when she actually needed him, he was not there for her.  To be honest, I think that this entire scene was a bit melodramatic.  There was no true love between Calisto and Melibea, yet she kills herself?  It seems more like a young teenage girl being overly dramatic over a break up.

Celestina Day Four

Act 16: Initially Melibea had a virginal facade; everyone
thought of her as extremely chaste and she seemed happy with
that. In this chapter, she and her servant overhear the
former's parents planning to marry her off and she gets very
"upset by the idea they have of [her] presumed state of
innocence" (168). In your opinion, has tasting 'forbidden
fruit' changed her outlook so drastically? Is this part of a
rebellion against the wall of oppression her father's made
for her?
While Melibea is more open about her sexual feelings, I do not think that this change is drastic.  At the beginning of the romance, Melibea acted very virginal and pure when she was talking to Calisto.  While she was physically a virgin, she was far from pure.  The first time Melibea talked to Calisto, she consistently kept saying that she was appalled, but her tone said otherwise.  There has always been an underlying falseness to her words.  She has always played the game of pretending to be chaste in order to get what she really wants which is sex.  Therefore, this change is far from drastic because she has always had a very sexual side to her.  I do believe, though, that her new found bluntness about sex is her way of rebelling against her father.  Her virginity is the only thing that he cannot control.  So to not be a virgin, it is the only way Melibea can upset her father.   

Act 17: "However, why do we possess common sense, if not to
look our losses in the eye and see that cosmetics and
clothes can make a lass beautiful, even when she's not, turn
an old lady into a young woman and a younger into someone
even younger? Face paint and birdlime are sticky traps we
use to ensnare men. Let's get out my mirror and some
cleaning liquid, because my eyes are in a proper state..."
(169-170) How does the above quote reflect the theme of
deceit in the story? If clothes and cosmetics changing one's
appearance is an ode to the whole notion of things not being
as they seem, then is there any significance to the latter
part of the quote (cleaning liquid, eyes in a proper state)?

Deceit and trickery is the most prevalent theme in this romance.  This mention of the make up and clothes not only has a metaphorical meaning but also a literal meaning.  Each character in the romance wears a mask, and does not show his or her true identity.  Therefore, the cleaning of the make up relates to how everyone needs to be honest in order to find themselves.  Because each character has this facade, it is necessary to wipe this away to see the reality of the situation.  Mentioning the make up and clothes also has an important literal meaning to the story.  All the women in the romance always have to have lots of make up on and wear the prettiest clothes.  For instance, Sempronio and Parmeno do not want to walk in on the women if they are natural.  Also, Celestina dresses Melibea up in order to attract Calisto.  Rather than letting Calisto fall in love with her because of her mind, she has to be pretty instead.  There is an incredible emphasis on beauty in this romance.  Therefore wiping the make up away, could also be literal, in that, it is time to accept women for how they really look and not a fake, unnatural look.

Celestina Chapters 7-11

Chapter 8

On page 98, Sempronio says: “not everything is white that isn’t black and not everything yellow and shiny is gold.” What do you think this means?

One of the biggest themes in this novel is trickery.  Calisto hires Celstina to in a way trick Melibea into reciprocating his love for her.  Sempronio and Parmeno are tricking Calisto into believing that they are helping him on his quest for love.  Then, ultimately, Celstina is fooling everyone in the story.  Another prevalent theme is morality.  This novel plays devil's advocate; it never specifically concludes that one action is bad or another is good.  Therefore, saying 'not everything is white that isn't black' implies that morality is a very grey area.  There is not any character in the novel that is necessary good or bad.  The boundaries of morality are not as strict.  Each character plays both sides.  On the other hand, 'not everything yellow and shiny is gold' alludes to how the trickery in the novel.  Even though Celestina's words appear to be honest, that is not necessarily the truth.  Also, Calisto firmly believes that Malibea is the most beautiful girl in the world, but just because he believes it to be so does not actually mean that she is.  In fact, Celstina and Melibea herself agree that she is not beautiful.   

   

Chapter 9

The issue of trust comes up many times in Celestina. In Chapter 9, on page 102, Sempronio says “out of goodwill or under pressure from us, Clestina will at least give us a piece of whatever she gets.” How is trust related to trickery here? Why do you think Sempronio and Pármeno are so trusting of Celestina, even though she’s tricking Calisto?

As it has been stated before, trickery is the sustenance that moves the novel along.  Each character tricks another character at some point in his or her own way.  I think that Sempronio ad Parmeno are so trusting of Celestina because they themselves are being fooled by her, as well.  Celestina puts on this facade of being almost like a mother figure to these two men especially Parmeno because she was friends with his mother.  She acts nice, genuine, and trustworthy.  In reality, she is the most intellectual keen on how to manipulate others.  I think Parmeno and Sempronio trust Celsetina out of denial.  Since she is tricking Calisto, they might assume that she is too busy to trick them.  Also, they are helping her, so they think that they have developed a friendship with her, therefore, they think she will not betray that trust.  Personally, I think that Celestina will trick Sempronio and not give him his share of the money, but I do not think that she will do this to Parmeno.  Celestina has a history with Parmeno, and she really loved his mother, yet it appears that Parmeno and Celesltina have a connection, too.  Either from a motherly or lover respect, I think that Parmeno will be the only one that Celestina will not take advantage of.

Celestina Chapter 3-6

Chapter 4, Question 2
"I think people describe life's merry go round as their
fortune finds it, for the rich sing a different tune."
What is the book saying about class separation, and how it
affects people's thoughts about life and how they live it?

 

It is very evident that in this novel, Celestina, there is a major separation between the social classes.  Celestina is considered as an outcast.  She is just an old spinster, whore who many do not openly associate with.  For instance when Celestina goes to Melibea's house, Melibea's mother acts dumbfounded as to who Celestina is.  In reality, everyone knows very well who Celestina is and her reputation.  While in secrecy people often go to Celestina for various reasons (i.e. physical pleasure, thread, hymen reconstruction, match making, etc.), people do not admit to it amongst others.  Because Celestina is seen as a poor, outcast woman, it would ruin others' reputations to be seen with her.  Therefore, externally there is this facade of separation.  This class separation does affect how they live differently.  When Celestina first meets Melibea, she tells her that "richer are those who have nothing than those who are."  Basically, Celestina makes it a point to say that poor people have it easier because they do not have as many worries as the rich do.  The rich always have to wonder if what people are saying to them is fake or not.  They do not know what true friendship means.  Also, they have to worry about their own family wanting them dead so that they can inherit their money.  Therefore, the poor are more able to live their lives in peace. 

In Act Five Celestina tells Sempronio that they will both
get rich off of their plan. Are Clelstina’s words to be
trusted? Is Sempronio foolish for trusting her? Or does it
seem that Celestina is tricking everyone for her own
personal gain?

 As I have stated before, Celestina is a very peculiar woman.  She never really shows any sympathy for others, rather she is a bit selfish as she only cares about her own personal gain.  While she is selfish, she is still a likable character because she is so open and unforgiving about who she is.  Clearly Celestina's words are not to be trusted.  Rather than being the master in sex, she is the master of deception.  She uses her words to trick others.  She is very sneaky, and not once have we seen her not fool someone.  Sempronio is very foolish for trusting her.  She could care less about making him wealthy (in fact, she alludes to only giving the others a 'bit' rather than their whole share).  Celestina is obviously tricking everyone else for her own personal gain.  Calisto is a fool for being ''ill with love,"  Melibea is simply naive, and Sempronio is just a gullible fool.  Celestina has spent her entire life mastering the art of deceiving others.  Being a prostitute, she knows exactly how to read others' weaknesses, and she knows exactly what to do to take advantage of that.  She clearly exceeds all the other characters in intelligence.  However, if the others are dumb enough to fall into her trap, then why shouldn't she take advantage of that for her own personal gain?    

Celestina Chapters 1 & 2

1. Analyze the opening scene in Melibea’s garden. Why a garden? What might a garden signify? How do you interpret the words of Calisto and Melibea? Why does Melibea react in this manner? Can we read these words as genuine?
In the opening scene of Celestina, Calisto is in a garden with Melibea.  In the garden, they go on to tell each other their feelings, or lack there of, for one another.  The garden is a very symbolic figure in this scene.  Typically a garden can be used as a metaphor for a woman's virginity.  Therefore, implying that Melibea is a chaste woman.  However, there is also another strong symbolic meaning to the garden.  In the story of Adam and Eve, the setting took place in a garden.  Eve eats the forbidden fruit in the garden and then goes on, according to some interpretations, to trick Adam into eating the fruit, as well.  This story definitely foreshadows what Sempronio later says about women.  Essentially, the garden represents that women are bad and will ruin men.  In this scene, Calisto goes on about his undying love for Melibea, while Melibea shows no interest in him whatsoever.  Rather, Melibea raves about how chaste of a woman she is.  I cannot read these words as genuine because they are too over the top.  Calisto seems to play the stereotypical man who sees Melibea once, yet he instantly knows that he loves her.  For Calisto, his love for Melibea is very vapid and shallow, and it is not based on any reality.  As for Melibea, if she really was so pure, why would she need to constantly remind Calisto of this?  It seems as if she is hiding something.  Therefore, this first scene was a bit over the top and dramatic to ever be taken as genuine.   


3. What are our initial impressions of Celestina? What type of character is this? What does she say which influences your analysis? What about her later exchanges with Parmeno? (And this back history with Parmeno’s mother – what do you think happens here?)
Celestina is a very peculiar woman.  In all of our readings thus far, we have never had a female character with such moxie and spunk.  She has a very negative reputation among her peers.  In fact when Parmeno begins to describe her, he goes on for a good page constantly repeating that she is a 'whore'.  Celestina is very well aware of this, and rather than trying to deny this, like many women in the other stories we have read try to do, she embraces it.  She is not ashamed of who she is, and the actions she does.  I could say that she probably the biggest feminist that we have read so far because she is so forthcoming about who she is.  Celestina is all about instant pleasures for herself.  She has sex often because it is sexually gratifying for her.  Then, she wants to steal Calisto's money by taking advantage of him because she wants instant money.  She is the type of character who is very selfish, and does not care about how her actions affect others.  We see this when she persuades Parmeno to help her and Sempronio into taking Calisto's money by 'helping' him gain Melibea's love.  Also, an important line she says to Parmeno is that "all is fair in love and war."  This statement holds very true to her character.  She takes whatever she can when she can because she honestly believes that if someone is stupid enough to get taken advantage of, then they deserve to get taken advantage of.  Parmeno already knows Celstina because he worked for her as a child.  When he tells Celestina this, she is in shock because he looks so different.  Parmeno goes on to tell Celestina that he thinks that she is just a 'whore', and Celestina replies back that his mother was 'a whore too.'  This is very important because she may be implying that his mother is similar to Celestina and used Parmeno for money, too.