LA CELESTINA: Resumen completo, Análisis, Género literarioǀ¿Fernando de Rojas es el verdadero autor?

Yesica Amaya

30 Sept 202018:24

Summary

TLDRThis video offers an insightful summary of 'La Celestina,' a seminal work by Fernando de Rojas written between 1499 and 1500. Often read during high school, the play blends elements of tragedy and comedy, exploring themes of love, betrayal, and morality. The story revolves around Calixto's love for Melibea, facilitated by Celestina, a matchmaker with a dark side. The narrative is rich with characters like Sempronio, Pármeno, and various prostitutes, each contributing to the complex plot. Despite its old Spanish language, the video promises to make the story accessible and engaging, encouraging viewers to appreciate its literary significance and the author's clever use of language to convey both comedic and tragic elements.

Takeaways

📚 'La Celestina' is a significant work written by Fernando de Rojas between 1492 and 1499, often read during high school.
🌟 It was a major success in the 16th century and remains a classic in Spanish Golden Age literature.
🚫 Despite its popularity, it was banned around 1790 due to its controversial content.
🎭 The work is a blend of tragedy and comedy, with elements of both genres present in the narrative.
✍️ The authorship is attributed to Fernando de Rojas, but the text suggests there might be another original author.
💡 The work carries a moral lesson about the dangers of trusting go-betweens and the importance of following divine commandments.
👤 Key characters include Calixto and Melibea (the lovers), Pleberio (Melibea's father), and Celestina (the go-between).
🏡 The story involves a complex web of relationships, betrayals, and schemes, primarily centered around Celestina's house.
🔪 The narrative takes a dark turn with the murder of Celestina by her accomplices, Sempronio and Pármeno, over a dispute about the reward.
💔 The story concludes with a tragic ending, where Calixto dies in an accident and Melibea commits suicide upon learning of his death.
🎨 The script highlights the mix of poetic and vulgar language, reflecting the work's blend of high and low culture.

Q & A

Who is the author of 'La Celestina'?
-Fernando de Rojas is generally considered the author of 'La Celestina', although there is some uncertainty as the text suggests there might be another author involved.
In what period was 'La Celestina' written?
-The play was written between 1499 and 1500, during the Spanish Renaissance.
Why is 'La Celestina' often studied in literature classes?
-It is a significant work from the Spanish Golden Age and is one of the first works studied in literature classes, particularly for its exploration of themes and its unique blend of tragedy and comedy.
What is the genre of 'La Celestina'?
-It is a tragicomedy, a mix of tragic and comic elements, which was a point of debate and discussion during its time.
What is the role of Celestina in the story?
-Celestina is the matchmaker or go-between, facilitating the relationship between Calixto and Melibea, and is also referred to as an 'alcahueta', which implies she facilitates sexual encounters.
Who are the main characters in 'La Celestina'?
-The main characters include Calixto, Melibea, Pleberio, Alisa, Celestina, Sempronio, Pármeno, Tristán, Sosia, Lucrecia, Areúsa, and Rufián.
What is the significance of the character Rufián in the story?
-Rufián, also known as the 'putañero', represents the pimp or the person who manages the affairs of the prostitutes, adding to the sexual context of the narrative.
What is the role of the character Pármeno in the story?
-Pármeno is a servant of Calixto who initially distrusts Celestina but eventually gets involved in the plot, leading to his downfall.
How does the story of Calixto and Melibea end?
-The story ends tragically with Calixto's death after falling from a ladder and Melibea's subsequent suicide, reflecting the tragic aspect of the play.
What is the moral lesson that the author might be trying to convey through 'La Celestina'?
-The author may be using the story to teach a lesson about the dangers of trusting in go-betweens and the importance of adhering to religious and moral values.
Why was 'La Celestina' banned around 1790?
-The play was banned due to its content, which was considered too risqué and in conflict with the moral and religious standards of the time.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to 'La Celestina'

The paragraph introduces 'La Celestina,' a seminal work by Fernando de Rojas, written between 1499 and 1500. It discusses the book's enduring popularity, particularly in educational settings, and its historical significance as a key piece of literature from the Spanish Golden Age. The author highlights the book's controversial nature, which led to its prohibition around 1790. The genre of the work is also explored, with 'La Celestina' being a blend of tragedy and comedy, a characteristic that has sparked debate among scholars. The paragraph sets the stage for a detailed discussion of the book's themes, characters, and narrative structure.

05:01

🎭 Character Analysis and Context

This paragraph delves into the characterization and societal context of 'La Celestina.' It explains the roles and motivations of key figures such as Calixto, Melibea, Pleberio, Alisa, Celestina, and others. The discussion touches on the different societal roles and perceptions of these characters, including the complex role of Celestina as a matchmaker and the moral implications of her actions. The paragraph also addresses the language and themes of the work, including the sexual undertones and the use of colloquial speech, which contribute to the work's classification as both a tragedy and a comedy.

10:01

💔 The Tragic Love Story Unfolds

The narrative focuses on the tragic love story between Calixto and Melibea, orchestrated by Celestina. It details how Calixto, with the help of his servants and Celestina, attempts to win Melibea's love. The paragraph describes the intricate plot involving deception, betrayal, and the eventual meeting between the lovers. It also highlights the internal conflict of the characters, particularly Calixto's servants who begin to doubt Celestina's intentions. The paragraph culminates in the betrayal and murder of Celestina, setting the stage for the tragic conclusion of the story.

15:03

🏰 Climax and Resolution of the Tragedy

The final paragraph describes the dramatic climax and resolution of 'La Celestina.' It recounts the fateful night when Calixto meets Melibea, leading to their secret love affair. The paragraph details the intervention of external forces, including the arrival of men who fight with Calixto's servants, resulting in Calixto's death. The tragic consequences of their actions unfold as Melibea, in her despair, takes her own life after confessing her love for Calixto to her father. The paragraph concludes with Pleberio's famous speech, reflecting on the tragedy that has befallen his family, and the overall somber tone of the work, which is characteristic of a tragedy but with elements of comedy intertwined.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Celestina

Celestina is the title of the work discussed in the video and the name of the central character, who is an old woman and a go-between for lovers. She represents the figure of the 'alcahueta', or matchmaker, in the story. The video explains that the term 'alcahueta' has different connotations in modern Colombia than in the context of the story, where it refers to someone who facilitates sexual encounters for a fee. Celestina's role is crucial as she sets the plot in motion by arranging a secret meeting between the lovers.

💡Fernando de Rojas

Fernando de Rojas is mentioned as the attributed author of 'Celestina'. The video script discusses the uncertainty around the authorship and how the author might be using the introduction of the work to protect himself from criticism by framing the story as a moral lesson. This reflects the historical context of the work and the cultural norms of the time, where authors had to be cautious about the content they published.

💡Tragicomedy

Tragicomedy is a literary genre that blends elements of both tragedy and comedy. The video script explains that 'Celestina' is presented as a tragicomedy, with the author himself noting the characteristics of each in the prologue. The tragic aspect is seen in the language and the ultimate downfall of the characters, while the comic elements are found in the more vulgar language and chaotic subplots involving the servants. This genre reflects the complexity of the work and its ability to entertain while also delivering a moral message.

💡Calixto

Calixto is a character in 'Celestina' who is deeply in love with Melibea. His love is the catalyst for the main plot of the story, as he seeks out Celestina's help to win Melibea's affection. Calixto's character represents the passion and desire that drive the narrative and lead to the tragic events that unfold. His actions and decisions are central to understanding the development of the story and the eventual outcome.

💡Melibea

Melibea is the object of Calixto's affection and a central character in 'Celestina'. She is portrayed as a young woman who is initially resistant to Calixto's advances but eventually agrees to meet him secretly. Melibea's character is significant as she represents the idealized love interest and her decisions contribute to the tragic conclusion of the story. Her actions and eventual fate highlight the themes of love, betrayal, and the consequences of forbidden love.

💡Putañero

The term 'putañero' is used in the video to describe one of the characters, Escrito. It translates to 'pimp' in English, referring to a man who lives off the earnings of prostitutes. This term is used to illustrate the morally complex world of the characters in 'Celestina' and the various roles that people play in facilitating the central love affair, which is a key element in understanding the social dynamics and the darker aspects of the story.

💡Rufián

Rufián, as mentioned in the script, refers to a character who is a 'pimp' or someone who traffics or works with prostitutes. This term is used to describe one of the characters involved in the revenge plot against Calixto. The presence of a rufián in the story adds to the seedy and dangerous undertones of the narrative, emphasizing the darker side of the society depicted in 'Celestina'.

💡Moral Lesson

The concept of a moral lesson is central to the video's discussion of 'Celestina'. The video suggests that the author may have intended for the work to serve as a cautionary tale against the dangers of trusting go-betweens like Celestina and the importance of adhering to religious and moral commandments. This moral lesson is woven into the narrative and is reflected in the tragic outcomes that befall the characters, emphasizing the consequences of their actions.

💡Prologue

The prologue of 'Celestina' is highlighted in the video as a key element where the author sets the stage for the work's genre and themes. It is in the prologue that the author discusses the characteristics of tragedy and comedy, setting the expectation for the blend of genres that the audience will experience. The prologue serves as an introduction to the complex layers of the work and provides insight into the author's intentions for the story.

💡Climax

The climax of 'Celestina' is a critical moment in the story where the tensions and conflicts reach their peak, leading to the tragic outcome. The video describes how Calixto's excitement to meet Melibea, the secret meeting, and the subsequent fight that leads to his death represent the climax of the story. This part of the narrative is essential for understanding the turning point that leads to the resolution of the plot and the ultimate fate of the characters.

💡Resolution

The resolution in 'Celestina' is marked by the tragic deaths of the main characters and the moral fallout from their actions. The video script mentions how the story concludes with Melibea's suicide after Calixto's death and Pleberio's famous speech. This resolution underscores the tragic consequences of the characters' choices and the fulfillment of the moral lesson that the author intended to convey through the story.

Highlights

La Celestina, a work written between 1499 and 1500, is attributed to Fernando de Rojas and has remained a literary classic for over 500 years.

The work is often assigned in high school literature classes, where students may struggle with its archaic language.

La Celestina is classified as a tragicomedy, mixing elements of both tragedy and comedy, which remains a subject of debate among scholars.

The prologue raises questions about the true authorship, as Fernando de Rojas mentions that another author may have begun the work.

The story begins with Calisto, who falls in love with Melibea but is unsure how to approach her, leading his servant Sempronio to suggest seeking the help of Celestina.

Celestina, a matchmaker or 'alcahueta,' assists Calisto in winning Melibea’s love, but at a monetary cost.

The characters' roles provide insight into societal norms: Celestina facilitates illicit relationships, and various characters, including servants and prostitutes, play key roles.

Despite initial resistance, Melibea eventually confesses her interest in Calisto, giving Celestina a token to bring back to him.

Celestina’s manipulation of characters, including persuading the servant Pármeno by offering a romantic relationship with a prostitute, highlights the power dynamics and deceit in the story.

Calisto and Melibea secretly meet at night, facilitated by Celestina, leading to a series of tragic events.

After receiving payment from Calisto, Celestina is confronted by his servants Sempronio and Pármeno, who murder her over a disagreement about sharing the reward.

Calisto, unaware of Celestina’s death, continues his plans to meet Melibea but is eventually killed in a fall from a ladder during an attempted secret meeting.

Melibea, devastated by Calisto's death, confesses her love and suicide plans to her father before throwing herself from a tower.

The work ends with a powerful monologue by Pleberio, Melibea’s father, who mourns the loss of his daughter and reflects on the fragility of life.

La Celestina’s blend of tragedy and humor, especially in its portrayal of lower-class characters and their vulgar language, marks it as a significant example of Golden Age literature.