6.1 La casa de Bernarda Alba – Federico García Lorca

7 min read•march 15, 2023

Sylvia Rodriguez

AP Spanish Literature 💃🏽

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Author's Background:

Federico García Lorca was a Spanish poet, playwright, and theater director from Granada, Spain. He was a prominent figure in the Generation of '27, a group of artists, writers, and intellectuals who sought to revolutionize Spanish culture in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War. Lorca wrote poetry, plays, and theater pieces, and was known for his surrealist and avant-garde works. Lorca's works often contained themes of passion, love, death, and nature, and he infused them with a unique sensibility that reflected his own life and experiences. He wrote about the beauty of the Spanish landscape and its people, as well as darker topics such as the brutality of war and the struggles of the working class. His works often contained an underlying political message, and he used his art to confront the injustices of the day. His works were highly influential and helped shape the culture of the 20th century in Spain. He was assassinated by Nationalist forces during the Spanish Civil War, but his legacy of bold, innovative, and passionate works lives on.

Historical Context:

The Casa de Bernarda Alba was written in 1936, during the Spanish Civil War. This was a conflict between the Republicans, who supported the Spanish Second Republic, and the Nationalists, who sought to overthrow it. The conflict resulted in the death of over 500,000 people and the establishment of an authoritarian regime under the rule of General Francisco Franco The Spanish Civil War provided the historical context for The Casa de Bernarda Alba, and the oppressive nature of the conflict is reflected in the play. The play focuses on the oppression of women in a patriarchal society, and the characters are unable to escape the oppressive environment they live in. The play serves as an example of the tragic consequences of a society that subjugates and oppresses its citizens. The play also highlights the powerlessness of women in a male-dominated culture, as the characters are unable to escape the oppressive environment they live in. The play serves as a warning against the dangers of authoritarianism and the need for freedom and equality.

Overview:

The Casa de Bernarda Alba is a drama set in a rural Spanish town in the 1930s. It follows the story of Bernarda Alba, a domineering widow who forces her five daughters to remain in mourning for eight years following the death of her second husband. The play is a tragic exploration of the oppressive nature of patriarchal society and the powerlessness of women in a male-dominated culture.

The play follows the story of Bernarda and her five daughters, who are forced to remain in mourning and subject to Bernarda's oppressive rule. As the play progresses, the characters are forced to confront the tragic consequences of their situation, as they are unable to escape the oppressive society they live in. The play explores themes of oppression, patriarchy, repression, family, and tradition, as the characters struggle to make sense of their lives in a society that subjugates them. Through the use of symbolism, imagery, and metaphor, the play paints a vivid picture of the tragedy of a patriarchal society and the powerlessness of its citizens. The Casa de Bernarda Alba serves as an important work of literature that highlights the need for freedom and equality in a world where oppression and subjugation are still prevalent.

Themes:

The main themes of The Casa de Bernarda Alba are oppression, patriarchy, repression, family, and tradition. These themes are explored through the characters of the play and their struggles against a society that subjugates them.

Oppression: The play explores the oppressive nature of a patriarchal society and how it can lead to tragedy and despair. The characters are unable to escape their oppressive situation and are instead forced to confront the consequences of their subjugation.

Patriarchy: The play examines the power of the patriarchal system and how it can lead to the oppression of women and the subjugation of their rights. Through the story of Bernarda and her daughters, the play shows how a male-dominated society can lead to the repression of women and their inability to escape such an oppressive environment.

Repression: The play highlights the powerlessness of the characters in a society that subjugates them. The characters are unable to escape the oppressive environment they live in, and the play shows how such a system can lead to tragedy and despair.

Family: The play explores the idea of family and the relationships between its members. The characters of the play are bound together by family ties, and the play examines how these relationships can be both supportive and oppressive.

Tradition: The play also examines the power of tradition and how it can be used to oppress and subjugate its citizens. The characters are forced to live by a strict set of rules, and the play shows how these rules can lead to tragedy and despair.

Literary Elements:

The literary elements of The Casa de Bernarda Alba include the use of symbolism, imagery, and metaphor. The play also utilizes a blend of realism and surrealism, using elements of the Spanish Civil War as a backdrop for the characters' stories.

• Symbolism: The play utilizes symbolism to explore the themes of oppression and patriarchy. The characters of the play are often depicted as caged birds, representing their powerlessness and inability to escape the oppressive environment they live in. • Imagery: The play also uses imagery to convey the tragedy of the characters' situation. The use of dark colors and shadows is used to represent the oppressive nature of the environment, while light colors and brightness are used to represent hope and freedom. • Metaphor: The play employs metaphors to further explore the themes of oppression and patriarchy. The characters are often compared to animals, such as sheep, to illustrate their powerlessness and subjugation. • Realism and Surrealism: The play utilizes a blend of realism and surrealism, using elements of the Spanish Civil War as a backdrop for the characters' stories. The setting of the play is used to explore the oppressive nature of the conflict and how it affects the characters.

Summary:

Act Summaries

Act I: The play begins with Bernarda Alba announcing to her five daughters that they will remain in mourning for eight years following the death of her second husband. The daughters are then left to grapple with their oppressive situation and the strict rules imposed by Bernarda. Adela, the youngest daughter, is particularly frustrated and openly challenges her mother's authority.

Act II: In this act, tensions between Bernarda and her daughters come to a head. Adela continues to challenge her mother's authority and declares her love for Pepe el Romano, a man forbidden to her. This sparks a heated argument between Bernarda and Adela, and Bernarda eventually relents and allows Adela to marry Pepe. Act III: In the final act, tragedy strikes when Adela commits suicide. The family is left in shock, and Bernarda is left to grapple with the tragedy of her daughter's death. In the end, the family is left with a sense of tragedy and hopelessness, unable to escape the oppressive society they live in.

Scene by Scene Summaries:

Act I Scene 1: The play begins with Bernarda Alba announcing to her five daughters that they will remain in mourning for eight years following the death of her second husband. The daughters are then left to grapple with their oppressive situation and the strict rules imposed by Bernarda. Scene 2: In this scene, the daughters discuss their situation in private. Adela, the youngest daughter, expresses her frustrations and her desire for freedom. Angustias, the eldest daughter, warns Adela against challenging her mother's authority. Scene 3: In this scene, Bernarda discovers Adela and Pepe el Romano, a man forbidden to her, together. Bernarda is furious and threatens to punish Adela if she continues to defy her.

Act II Scene 1: In this scene, Bernarda and her daughters attend a dinner with a wealthy family. Adela continues to challenge her mother's authority, refusing to follow her rules. Scene 2: In this scene, Bernarda and Adela have a heated argument in which Adela declares her love for Pepe. Bernarda eventually relents and allows Adela to marry Pepe.

Act III Scene 1: In this scene, Adela and Pepe are married. The family celebrates the wedding, but the joy is short-lived when Adela commits suicide in the night. Scene 2: In the final scene, the family is left in shock and despair. Bernarda is left to grapple with the tragedy of her daughter's death, and the family is left with a sense of tragedy and hopelessness, unable to escape the oppressive society they live in.

Significance:

The Casa de Bernarda Alba is an important work of literature that explores the oppression of women in a patriarchal society. It serves as an example of the powerlessness of women in a male-dominated culture and the tragic consequences of such an oppressive system. The play highlights the need for freedom and equality in a world where oppression and subjugation are still prevalent. It is a powerful reminder of the need to challenge oppressive systems and fight for a more just and equitable world.

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6.1 La casa de Bernarda Alba – Federico García Lorca