[Act XXI – Death of Melibea] · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: [Act XXI – Death of Melibea]
Subject: Spanish romances; Melibea (Fictitious character); Pleberio (Fictitious character); Alisa (Fictitious character); Parents; Falls; Falling; Jumping; Towers; Suicide; Death; Sadness; Despondency; Melancholy; Despair; Loss
Period: 1500-1550;
Geographic: Spain; Seville (Spain); Castile (Kingdom)
Description: After Melibea ends her life, Pleberio returns to his bedroom in tears. His wife Alisa inquires as to the cause of his sorrow, and he informs her of Melibea’s death. She faints, and Pleberio pleads with her to awaken, that she may help to console his pain. Pleberio then engages in a lengthy and despondent soliloquy.[1) This illustration is odd, seeing as Act XXI occurs entirely within the bedroom of Pleberio and Alisa. Thus, the illustration does not directly correspond to any of the events in this act. Act XX also does not include the scene in which Melibea falls, only her last words before jumping. Thus, this illustration depicts a scene between Acts XX and XXI. 2) None of the elements in this illustration are found elsewhere in this edition.]
Image Creator: Anonymous (Engraver);Jacobo Cromberger (Printer); Anonymous (Engraver); Jacobo Cromberger (Printer)
Type: StillImage; Woodcut
Identifier: mta:19925
Source Name: Tragicomedia de Calisto y Melibea : en la qual se contiene de mas de su agradable e dulce estilo muchas sentencias filosofales : e auisos muy necessarios para mancebos : mostrandoles los engaños quastan encerrados en seruientes e alcabuetas : e nueuamente añadido el tractado de Centurio.
Parent Collection: 1502 Seville Cromberger; 1502 Seville Cromberger
Image: mta_19925_OBJ.png
Collection: Celestina
Subject: Spanish romances; Melibea (Fictitious character); Pleberio (Fictitious character); Alisa (Fictitious character); Parents; Falls; Falling; Jumping; Towers; Suicide; Death; Sadness; Despondency; Melancholy; Despair; Loss

Media: mta_19925_OBJ.png