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.