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. 

 ---

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.