Towards a new subjectivity: the father figure in the sentimental genre and <i>La Celestina</i>

Abstract

This article examines the figure of the father in the sentimental novels Siervo libre de amor (1440) by Juan Rodríguez del Padrón, Cárcel de amor (1492) by Diego de San Pedro and La Historia de Grisel y Mirabella (1495) by Juan de Flores in order to contrast those figures with the character of Pleberio in La Celestina. I argue that the father in La Celestina should be read as a parody of the figure of the father in the sentimental novel genre. Moreover, I propose that Pleberio represents a new form of subjectivity, in which the father is not worried about representing the law and authority nor about being impartial. In Fernando de Rojas' text, the father instead he takes a more human stance regarding his daughter's death.

Keywords

• figuras del padre
• novela sentimental
• pleberio
• siervo libre de amor
• cárcel de amor
• la historia de grisel y mirabella