Gaspar Gómez's <i>La Tercera Celestina</i>: Identity of the continuator of Feliciano de Silva's work and literary licence for an agreed ending

Abstract

This research identifies Gaspar Gómez de Toledo, the author of the work. He is a Toledo merchant, occasional slave trader and administrator of Feliciano de Silva. I propose the hypothesis that the work was composed in agreement with the latter with one aim: to close the work and prevent its continuation. To do this, it was necessary to kill off all the characters and give a happy ending to the love affair between Polandria (Gracia Fe, Feliciano de Silva's wife) and Felides (Feliciano de Silva) with their wedding. A marriage that, in real life, was highly questioned due to the Jewish origins of the former and the great difference in their ages. In any case, the lost decorum of the estates is recovered during the story: the ruffians have a tragic end and the lords achieve their lawful purposes.

Keywords

• gaspar gómez
• feliciano de silva
• celestina
• continuación
• pacto literario