Perspectivism and proverbial discourse in the portraits of La Celestina

Abstract

The complex technique of the portrait used by Fernando de Rojas in La Celestina has been the object of several studies and yet it is always suggestive for new critical approaches. As Snow observes (1992), the characterization procedure of Rojas “es un arte que deja que las palabras nos entreguen las imágenes que de unos personajes tienen los otros personajes. Puestas en íntima proximidad, estallan como tienen que estallar y ayudan a retratar a las personas y personalidades detrás de las palabras”. In fact, the characterization is delineated as the dialogues progress and is constructed from multiple points of view, complementary or divergent, and the reader is responsible for the assembly of the representation of the characters drawn by that game of different figures. In this article I propose to approach the perspectivism that is reflected through the perception of the protagonists by themselves and other characters, and put it in relation to the application of the proverbial discourse to the characterization and justification of the representations of characters.