The old and opportunistic Celestina has several professional lines. She is a procuress, prostituting women for sex and arranging romantic attachments; she practices witchcraft, performing the spell that causes Melibea to fall in love with Calisto; and she performs procedures that make women who are about to get married seem to still be virgins. 

Celestina sells and trades the bodies of other women for money and clout. For instance, Elicia’s devotion to Celestina feeds Sempronio’s willingness to cooperate with the older woman. Pármeno finally gives in to Celestina’s influence when Celestina coerces Areúsa to have sex with him.

Well known for taking advantage and cheating others to make money, Celestina is very persuasive and adept at slanting the truth to achieve her goals. In the end, Celestina is unscrupulous enough to betray even her co-conspirators, Pármeno and Sempronio. When she refuses to share the payment she receives from Calisto with them, they murder her. But despite her dishonesty and immorality, Celestina is a woman who provides for herself and manages to survive into old age on her wits and determination.

A 23-year-old wealthy caballero of noble blood, Calisto sets off the story when he falls in love with Melibea and grows desperate to win her.