Celestina- Day 3

1. Celestina's actions towards Areusa lend much insight into her character. First, we can see that Celestina still has desires and feelings towards women. This sequence of events begins with Celestina commenting on Areusa's bed. She says that her bad smells sweet, and then she even gets into bed with Areusa. Then, even thought it is not implicitly stated, we can assume that Celestina molests Areusa. The dialogue includes Celestina saying that she will feel Areusa to attempt a diagnosis of the illness, and then is followed by Areusa telling Celestina that the pain is farther up, over her stomach. Finally, Celestina comments on Areusa's breasts and her youth, and advises her to enjoy it while it lasts. While I feel that this conveys a sense of lust towards Areusa, I also believe that Celestina is jealous of Areusa and her youth. She gets frustrated when Areusa talks of having only one lover, and I think it is because she cannot have any lovers, and she detests Areusa's waste of this advantage.

One thing that puzzles me about this act is Areusa's illness. I cannot guess it's exact nature, but I can only imagine what type of illness it might be.We are only given a few clues about it. The first is that Celestina is familiar with it, and that this familiarity is due to her sins. Then, we know that Celestina's prescription for a cure is sex. She also says that after Areusa is done having sex with Parmeno she will wake up pale, but be cured. The only guess that I can fathom as to Areusa's illness, is that perhaps Areusa is menstruating. We know that Areusa is rather young, due to a remark that Celestina made a little earlier in the act. If Parmeno sleeps with, and impregnates, Areusa, she will miss her period the next month. While this inference may be far off-kilter, it is the only one I have.