La Célestine, Psychology Characterization Of Her Characters

What psychological characteristics do the characters possess in La Célestine’s book? Why are they so important for the development of this tragicomedy? In this article, we’ll answer these questions.

La Célestine is a literary work surrounded by mysteries. That’s why she turns out to be so interesting, especially when it comes to her characters.

They all present a specific psychologist characterization which dresses them and gives them an essential role in the work.

Focusing on the characters that Fernando de Rojas imagined with such care is a traditional way of being interested in this work of Spanish literature considered to be a tragicomedy.

So let’s take a look at how the author psychologically characterized all the characters who appear in this 15th century book.

The characters in La Célestine

In La Célestine, we can find 13 characters who have a significant role in the unfolding of the work. Although they are the lovers, Mélibée and Calixte, the central axis of this tragicomedy, the other figures who appear in it are also very important.

Celestine

Celestine is a famous elderly person because, thanks to certain tricks, she manages to ensure that two people can form a couple. Nevertheless, despite this help, which she offers in particular to Calixte so that Mélibée falls in love with him, Celestine is a woman who is characterized by:

His lack of scruples
The search for his sole interest
His great ability to persuade
His greed

Melibea

Mélibée is one of the heroines of La Célestine . At first, she is not attracted to Callistus. The rejection is so clear that she shows pride and even arrogance. However, thanks to the help Calixte receives from La Celestine, she changes in a sudden and surprising way.

She goes from rejection to the most complete devotion, where it is she who proposes to see Calixte on the sly. Thus, she ends up falling into the extremism of romantic love. This leads her to an unfortunate end.

Callistus

Calixte falls in love with Mélibée and what interests him is not love but to obtain what he desires. This makes him a selfish person who goes out of his way (resorting to La Celestine) to get what he craves without worrying about the consequences.

It shows that he is an insecure and immature person. We are talking about a young dreamer who badly manages the frustration of his expectations. When these are not answered, he has a crisis because of the resistance, in this case, of Mélibée.

Parmeno and Sempronio

Parmeno is the servant of Callistus. His journey matches that of a loyal character who strives to take care of his master. He warns her of the danger that trusting La Célestine can entail. Nonetheless, his loyalty crumbles when Callistus humiliates him and he doesn’t believe what he says.

Sempronio is another servant of Callistus, portrayed as a liar with false intentions. Unlike Parmeno, since the beginning he has taken advantage of his master to extract as much money as possible. While maintaining appearances, of course.

Double and Tristan

Double and Tristan are two faithful servants of Callistus who were previously grooms. First of all, Sosie is presented as someone who blindly falls in love. Indeed, he falls in love with Areusa, who manipulates him to extract information about his master.

Tristan, meanwhile, is presented as a very close servant who suffers a lot when Callistus dies. Tristan and Sosie are more than Calixte’s servants, they are his friends. Pure friendship, with no hidden intentions.

Lucretia

Lucretia is Mélibée’s servant and a faithful confidante. They tell each other everything that happens to them, especially in matters of love, thus feeling accompanied in their troubles and misadventures. Thanks to Lucretia, Calixte and Mélibée can see each other every night.

Lucretia was a prostitute but she decided to change her life and devote herself to serving. Nevertheless, his character is the archetype of a jealous person. She is jealous of her former colleagues and also of the romantic dates between Mélibée and Calixte.

Élicie and Areusa

Élicie is a prostitute from Celestine. She has an impulsive, contradictory and carefree character. This character lives in the present. However, when her guardian dies, she seeks revenge since she feels lonely.

Areusa is another of Celestine’s prostitutes. Unlike Élicie, this character is independent, free and resentful. She looks a lot like Celestine. Indeed, she knows how to manipulate others. She does it with her partner, Centurion.

Centurion

Centurion lives at the expense of prostitutes. He is what we would now call a pimp. He is characterized as a boastful, obscene and liar. He often uses prostitutes to get what he wants.

Although he presents himself as an imposing character, due to his bad temper and stature, this courage is really just a facade. Basically, he’s a cowardly character.

Plebere and Alisa

Plébère is Mélibée’s father. He is a very old man who is always very busy. When Mélibée dies, her life loses all meaning. He’s a character very worried about his daughter, especially because he wants her to get married.

Alisa is Mélibée’s mother. It plays a secondary role. Indeed, she is in the shadow of her husband. He is a relatively naive character who does not mistrust anyone. In fact, he lets Celestine enter her home.

The evolution of the characters

The psychological characterization of the people in this work by Fernando de Rojas is very diverse. Nevertheless, this is what makes it possible to clearly perceive an evolution.

All the characters change. Mélibée goes from rejection to the most absolute love for Calixte. Élicie goes from total recklessness to the desire for revenge for Celestine’s death. Everyone has an important role. Have you read the book La Célestine ? Did you realize how Fernando de Rojas psychologically characterized his characters?