Celestina Day 5

 Act 18 - What is Areusa's motive for plotting to murder Calisto? Is she just being cruel or does Calisto deserve it? Why do you think Elicia says, "Punish him with a beating, but don't kill him." Is she being sincere when she says this?

According to Areusa, she wants revenge on Calisto for upsetting both her and her cousing Elicia. Calisto’s a fool, but I don’t think he deserves to be killed for such a petty revenge as hers. She’s being a bit cruel, saying “why be merciful? Let him get on with it and kill him however it takes his fancy. Let Melibea cry like you have.”

And when she states, “punish him with a beating, but don’t kill him,” she’s being insincere, since she really wants him dead. 

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?

Oh, I was completely expecting it. That’s why this story is categorized as a comedy/tragedy. The whole 'Romeo/Juliet' tragedy is so typical, that if Melibea didn’t kill herself I think I’d be really shocked. Her father tthought it is an illness he can cure, but it's impossible to cure a broken heart with "herbs, stones or words." He tried to stop her, but since he didn't understand her feelings it was impossible for him to. She distracted him by telling him he could help by bringing a stringed instrument, so she can plan the way she will die. In death, she plans to meet up with Calisto again.

Celestina Day 3

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?

This philosophical phrase means that nothing is straightforward; there is no clear-cut beliefs and thoughts, and the world isn’t just black and white. There are gray patchy areas, and I believe at the moment Calisto is stuck in one of them, lamenting his love for Melibea and how it will ruin him, and wondering why she hasn’t come to satisfy his desires yet. Only outsiders can see how ridiculous he looks; he can’t recognize it himself. A night and most of a day passes by without Calisto even noticing. 

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Chapter 11

Calisto describes himself as a captive of love, as Melibea’s vassal. Is this true, given Celestina’s role in their affair?

Calisto definitely is a captive of love; although he may not consider himself so, his companions Parmeno and Sempronio see him as a love-struck fool. All he thinks about day and night is Melibea. Therefore, he can be considered as love's vassal, it's captive, but he is not a vassal to Melibea. I believe that both he and the woman he loves are Celestina's vassals, since it is Celestina who holds all the power in this story. She is the connector between Calisto and Melibea; she holds tremendous power over both of them, which I find to be ironic since not only is she a woman, she is an old woman, scorned by everyone while Calisto, a wealthy man, holds no power over himself and others; none over his servants, none of Melibea, and certainly none over the wily Celestina.

Celestina Day 1

1. The ‘garden’ is thought of as an image of innocence and purity. It is also symbolic of a woman’s virginity. Melibea and Calisto exchange their feelings for one another in a garden in the opening of chapter 1. Calisto is overwhelmed by her beauty and desires her, whereas Melibea asks him why he bothers pursuing a virtuous woman like her, and scorns him “Begone, you selfish fool.” Although the garden symbolizes a woman’s virginity, and Melibea is first seen in a garden, I believe that she is a trickster, and also a harlot like Celestina. I cannot believe her to be virtuous or chaste at all, like she claims to be. In this instance, the garden is acting as an image of the Garden of Eden, where Adam is tricked by Eve. This is implying that women are tricksters.

2. Calisto and Sempronio discuss Calisto's malady. As it happens, he is truly and hopelessly love-struck by Melibea. Calisto waxes on about Melibea and her flawless charms, alternating between anger and grief. Sempronio, having no loyalty for his master as far as I can see, listens to him just to save his own skin should something befall Calisto. Meanwhile, he mocks him and Melibea under his breath. Calisto is so blinded by love he scorns God, saying that his 'god' is Melibea and there is no other. This blasphemy is something I believe no man in his right mind would say willingly, and just further proves what Rojas seems to say in the first two chapters that women are all tricksters and push men to madness.