Celestina Introduction

Fernando de Rojas c born in Puebla de Montalbán (Toledo) Law student in Salamanca where he claims he found the first act and beginning of second and completed the work during his vacation 1509 served as Mayor of Talavera de la Reina Married Leonor Alvarez de Montalbán from a converso familty 1525 the Inquisition initiates proceedings against Alvaro de Montalvan, the father of his wife, Leonor. Rojas death April 8, Leaves library to eldest son Rojas’ Will

Comedia de Calisto y Melibea (1499)

Comedy of Calisto and Melibea, appeared in Toledo in 1500 with a foreword: "The author to a friend" and some strophes with acrostics of the author's name: Fernando de Rojas from Puebla de Montalbán. At the end of the sixteen acts we can read verses by Alonso de Proaza.

Tragicomedia de Calisto y Melibea, Sevilla, 1502

Acrostic Verses  The work probably circulated in mss form in Salamanca in the 1490’s.  Rojas reveals that he wrote the continuation for the benefit of someone whom he does not name.  With the addition of the poetry that spell out the name of Rojas in acrostic lines in the 1500 (Toledo) and 1501 (Seville) editions, he is no longer anonymous: “el bachiller fernando de rojas acabo la comedia de calysto y melybea y fue nascido en la puebla de montalban”

El silencio escuda y suele encubrir La falta de ingenio y torpeza de lenguas; Blasón, que es contrario, publica sus menguas A quien mucho habla sin mucho sentir. Como hormiga que dexa de yr, Holgando por tierra, con la prouisión: Jactóse con alas de su perdición: Lleuáronla en alto, no sabe dónde yr. El ayre gozando ageno y extraño, Rapina es ya hecha de aues que buelan Fuertes más que ella, por ceuo la lleuan: En las nueuas alas estaua su daño. Razón es que aplique a mi pluma este engaño, No despreciando a los que me arguyen Assí, que a mí mismo mis alas destruyen, Nublosas y flacas, nascidas de ogaño. Prosigue Donde ésta gozar pensaua bolando O yo de screuir cobrar más honor Del vno y del otro nasció disfauor: Ella es comida y a mí están cortando Reproches, reuistas y tachas. Callando Obstara, y los daños de inuidia y murmuros Insisto remando, y los puertos seguros A trás quedan todos ya quanto más ando. Prosigue Si bien quereys ver mi limpio motiuo, A quál me endereça de aquestos estremos, Con quál participa, quién rige sus remos, Apollo, Diana o Cupido altiuo, Buscad bien el fin de aquesto que escriuo, O del principio leed su argumento: Leeldo, vereys que, avnque dulce cuento, Amantes, que os muestra salir de catiuo. Comparación Como el doliente que píldora amarga O la recela, o no puede tragar, Métela dentro de dulce manjar, Engáñase el gusto, la salud se alarga: Desta manera mi pluma se embarga, I mponiendo dichos lasciuos, rientes, Atrae los oydos de penadas gentes;

Celestina: Later EditionsCelestina: Later EditionsCelestina: Later EditionsCelestina: Later Editions Celestina: Comedia de Calisto y Melibea ( , 16 acts); Tragicomedia de Calisto y Melibea (21 o 22 acts since 1500; and later, La Celestina with the subtitle “Tragicomedia.” Zaragoza: Jorge Coci, 1507Zaragoza: Juan Joffre, 1514

Additional Acts The new acts are inserted after Auto XIV Known as the Treatise of Centurio. Other additions to the work include interpolations within the entire work. New acts include: Elicia and Areusa seek revenge through a ruffian Centurio; Elicia and Areusa seek revenge through a ruffian Centurio; Melibea's parents plan to marry Melibea Melibea's parents plan to marry Melibea Calisto's last visit to Melibea with his new servants interrupted by a disturbance. Centurio sends Traso to harass Calisto since his own cowardice prevents him from undertaking the task himself. Calisto's last visit to Melibea with his new servants interrupted by a disturbance. Centurio sends Traso to harass Calisto since his own cowardice prevents him from undertaking the task himself.

Tragicomedia of Burgos, 1531 Act III

Fernando de Rojas: MS 1520Fernando de Rojas: MS 1520Fernando de Rojas: MS 1520Fernando de Rojas: MS 1520 Recently discovered manuscript of part of the First Act (Biblioteca de Palacio, Madrid, MS 1520) that consists of 8 folios written in two distinct hands

ContinuationsContinuationsContinuationsContinuations Continuations Like the books of chivarly, Celestina was continued and imitated: La Segunda Comedia de Celestina of Feliciano de Silva, La Tercera Celestina of Gaspar Gómez, La Hija de la Celestina of Salas Barbadillo, and imitations such as La Lozana Andaluza by Francisco Delicado Medina de Campo, 1534 Venecia, 1536

The Prologue  The Prologue first appears in the 1507 edition at the same time that the work is expanded from 16 to 21 acts due to its popularity and that of Celestina  He begins the prologue with a quote from Heraclitus: omnia secundum litem fiunt, “all things are created through way of contention or battle.”  Rojas states that the intention of the work is to warn of the dangers of “loco amor” and avarice as the cause of all human woe.

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