Celestina

Melibea’s parents, Pleberio and Alisa, discuss the passage of time. The recent events have made Pleberio very aware of the suddenness of death. Pleberio suggests that they find Melibea a husband, since “there is nothing that better preserves a clean reputation in a virgin than early marriage” (208). Pleberio, having no idea that Melibea is no longer a virgin, is sure that any man will be “happy to take such a jewel into his company” (208). Alisa agrees. Lucrecia overhears, dismayed, since “no one [can] restore maidenheads now that Celestina is dead” (208). Lucrecia tells Melibea what she heard. Melibea is unconcerned—her parents have been discussing this for a month, so she presumes that they sense that she is in love. Melibea won’t allow her parents to separate her from Calisto, exclaiming, “It is better to be a good mistress than a bad wife” (209).

Pleberio and Alisa discuss how to convince Melibea to consider her many suitors, since “the laws give freedom to men and women, though under paternal authority, to choose” (210). Alisa argues that Melibea knows nothing of men, marriage, or sex, so she cannot make a decision about something she does not understand.