The House of Bernarda Alba: Themes, Characters, and Analysis
The House of Bernarda Alba: Analysis of Themes and Characters
Conclusions
The House of Bernarda Alba is a concise yet profound work, offering ample material for moral conclusions and insights into various situations. It addresses a still-relevant issue: the lack of freedom for women in traditional Spanish society. The play also illustrates that love knows no bounds, highlighting the lengths to which one might go to achieve it. The work blends realism and symbolism, maintaining a balance between plausible events and deeper meanings.
Topic of the Work
The central theme is the suppression of women’s freedom during that era. This freedom is curtailed by societal rules that women were expected to uphold, often policing themselves to ensure compliance.
Character Analysis
Bernarda
An authoritarian figure who places great importance on external appearances and societal perception. She is deeply concerned with public criticism.
Angustias
39 years old, daughter from Bernarda’s first marriage. She inherits a considerable fortune, making her attractive to Pepe el Romano despite her age and lack of charm. She has lost her passion and enthusiasm for life.
Magdalena
30 years old. She displays signs of submission but can surprise with bitter protests. She would prefer to be a man, having abandoned the idea of marriage.
Amelia
27 years old; a timid, resigned, and fearful character. Her name means “no honey.”
Martirio
24 years old. A more complex character. She might have married if her mother had allowed it. She is ill, depressed, and pessimistic, harboring an irrepressible passion.
Adela
20 years old. The embodiment of open rebellion. The youngest, beautiful, and passionate. Her vitality (symbolized by her green dress), strength, and passion lead her to defiant cries: “My body will be whoever I want!” and “I’ll remember everything!” In open defiance of established morality, she is willing to become Pepe el Romano’s lover, even if it means wearing a “crown of thorns.” The climax occurs when she breaks Bernarda’s staff in a tragic act of rebellion. Her name means “noble nature.”
Other Characters
Maria Josefa
The grandmother, whose words mix madness and truth. Her cry, “Let me out!” poetically amplifies the central problems: the frustration of women, the desire for marriage and motherhood, and the yearning for freedom and open spaces.
The Poncia
An old maid who is involved in the family’s affairs, offering warnings and advice, even on intimate matters, to Bernarda. However, she never forgets the social distance between them and harbors resentment. Her conversations with the daughters feature open and blatant sexual talk, adding an element of contrast and murky incentives. Her rustic wisdom, popular expressions, and wealth of speech are notable.
The Younger Maid
Shares Poncia’s resentment towards love (and for the deceased husband who stalked her), though she is submissive and hypocritical. She reflects Poncia but is arrogant and rude to the beggar.
Pepe el Romano
Never appears on stage but is omnipresent. He embodies Man, the “dark object of desire.” A portrait of him is gradually built through the characters’ dialogue. His motivations are complex: he pursues Angustias for her money but loves Adela. He serves as a “catalyst” for the latent forces within the household.
Introduction
Federico García Lorca was born in 1898 in Granada and traveled extensively throughout Spain. Upon returning to his hometown, he became the director of the theater company “La Barraca.” Lorca belonged to the Generation of ’27, a literary movement. He initially embraced modernist roots, aiming to radically renew art and literature. Lorca was shot in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War by the fascist army.
Space and Time
The entire play unfolds within Bernarda’s house. Due to the mourning period, the characters are not allowed to leave, except for occasional trips to the garden. The events take place on a hot summer day.