[Act XVI - Death of Melibea] · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: [Act XVI - Death of Melibea]
Period: 1450-1500;
Geographic: Spain; Burgos (Spain)
Description: While atop the high tower of her parents' house (seen in the background of the image), Melibea confesses to her father Pleberio (stood on the ground below) that she had been seeing Calisto for some time, and that he had been visiting her in their garden frequently. After her confession, Melibea, disheartened by the loss of her true love, takes her own life by jumping from the tower (she can be seen dead in the bottom right corner of the image). Pleberio is devastated, and laments to his wife Alisa about the loss of their daughter. (As a side note: Alisa is not actually present when Melibea takes her own life. She remained in bed because of the sadness she felt upon hearing that Melibea was not feeling well.)Alisa, Melibea's mother, is seen standing to the left of the image. This is somewhat odd, seeing as her mother is not present when she takes her own life.
Image Creator: Anonymous (Wood engraver);Fadrique de Basilea (Printer of plates); Anonymous (Wood engraver); Fadrique de Basilea (Printer of plates)
Type: StillImage; Wood engraving
Identifier: mta:11682
Language: spa
Source Name: Comedia de Calisto y Melibea
Parent Collection: 1499 Burgos de Basilea; 1499 Burgos de Basilea
Image: mta_11682_OBJ.jpg
Collection: Celestina
Subject: Passions; Melibea (Fictitious character); Spanish romances; Alisa (Fictitious character); Pleberio (Fictitious character); Towers; Jumping; Sadness; Love; Death; Dying; Laments; Lamentations; Suicide; Parents

Media: mta_11682_OBJ.jpg