Celestina Act 1 and 2

Rambling brought about by question #1...

One of the interesting aspects of this opening scene is that Calisto reaches Melibea’s garden by chasing his falcon. In other stories we’ve seen the falcon used to symbolize the hunt – falcons being a bird of prey. Therefore, the fact that Calisto is chasing the falcon means the falcon has found its prey (Melibea) and he is coming to claim it. Is that the case however? When Calisto tries to make an advance, the lady thwarts him; therefore, she’s obviously not some downed prey. Ironically then, is it not Calisto who’s the prey? He believes he is the hunter but after being denied, we see him as hopelessly the victim of love or ‘Cupid’s poisonous dart.’ We’ve seen love characterized as a violent entity before and now this scene further cements that image. This scene shows a flip-flop of roles: the hunter becomes the hunted. Does man have any true power when woman and love is concerned? The fact that the scene takes place in Melibea’s garden is interesting in two ways. One, it is her garden. Calisto had tried to hunt her on her own turf and she won with the ‘home-field advantage.’ Additionally, a garden is a place of growth, where flowers and plants flourish – will Calisto be able to take root or will it remain barren of love fulfilled?

4. Analyze Parmeno’s long speeches concerning Celestina. What is her history, profession, etc.? What do you think she represents within the text? How does the entire community view this woman? Why? Use specific examples from the text to support your answer.

Thinking about the character of Celestina reminds me of the film ‘Se7en’: the serial killer John Doe tries to explain why he had to do he did. He explains to Mills, “But that's the point. We see a deadly sin on every street corner, in every home, and we tolerate it. We tolerate it because it's common, it's trivial.” Celestina ‘was a mistress of six trades’ – the first being a legitimate sounding one to cover for the rest. She was a lady of debauch who used being a seamstress to make the stream of wenches coming into her establishment for face painting, alluring perfume, ‘re-flowering,’ or hooking seem more venial. She is basically meant to embody corruption and sin. However, despite the fact that she’s known by all as a ‘dirty old whore,’ she’s tolerated – she hasn’t been run out of town despite her reputation. People turn the other cheek even when noblewomen sneak in to her place to seek her services. Her character is an ode to the corruption of society; the society in which we live is one where sin is accepted and tolerated because it serves a purpose – because it’s there and always has been.