Class Differences in Lorca’s “The House of Bernarda Alba”
1. Contextualization
This fragment belongs to the play The House of Bernarda Alba, written by Federico García Lorca (Fuentevaqueros, 1898 – Granada, 1936) in 1936. This was his last work, as he was tragically shot that same year, a victim of the Spanish Civil War. Lorca belonged to the Generation of ’27, a group of writers who gathered around that year to commemorate the third anniversary of the death of Góngora, whom they deeply admired. Lorca was an excellent poet and playwright. This particular fragment belongs to the second act of the play, where the first suspicions of trouble between Adela and Pepe arise, and the symptoms of tension increase.
2. Construction Features
This part involves only two characters: Poncia, an old friend who helped Bernarda and became her servant, and Bernarda, the undisputed protagonist, an authoritarian woman representing absolute power and fear of gossip. As part of the second act, the staged time represents the beginning of the afternoon and the course of events. Lorca uses three different times of day in the play (morning for the first act, evening for the second, and night for the third), creating the impression that the play takes place in a single day. These 24 hours seem compressed into the eight years of mourning. All three acts are set during the hottest part of the day. The author uses this technique to reflect the drudgery to which women were subjected, for whom all days are alike.
The action takes place in a room in the house, as does the entire play. The house symbolizes a prison where the characters are repressed. Finally, the stage directions reflect the speech of the two women (always with cruelty, hatred, and overflowing emotion) to show Bernarda’s attitude of superiority. She commands and treats her companions, particularly the maid, despotically. Poncia attempts to undermine the protagonist due to the contradictory feelings that bind them: on one hand, resentment derived from the treatment received, and on the other, loyalty and obedience.
3. Language Characteristics
Despite its apparent simplicity, Lorca’s language is skillfully crafted. He uses a colloquial register (e.g., “Here goes a very big thing!”, “And you’re going to you with such nonsense!” ), typical of spoken language. Through dialogue, Poncia warns Bernarda of tragedy, but Bernarda is unreceptive, refusing to see it and imposing her authority with categorical phrases, including numerous exclamations and imperatives.
Although Bernarda uses many outright commands (e.g., “I have them because I can have them!” ), Poncia remains loyal and submissive. Lorca uses resounding and emphatic phrases to showcase Bernarda’s belief in her superiority. He also highlights her classism and authoritarian nature (e.g., “My blood is not meeting with the Human in my lifetime!” ).
In terms of stylistic figures, we find many hyperboles, which are common throughout the work (e.g., “Here goes a very big thing!”, “and I would a thousand times” ). Lorca uses exaggeration to denounce the unfair situation he depicts.
4. Relationship Between the Author’s Views and the Topic
This work clearly shows the difference in classes. This part, in particular, highlights the classism that accentuates the protagonist’s personality. Lorca uses this classism to reflect the society of his time, but it is also a clear critique, as he presents a character with such pronounced classism that the reader or viewer is likely to reject her. This class difference is also illustrated when Bernarda prohibits Martirio’s marriage to Enrique Human. She speaks with contempt of the common people and behaves in a superior manner towards the maids.
5. Personal Opinion
In the past, marriages between different social classes were not allowed. Wealthy families, seeking to increase their wealth, often forced their children to marry within the same social status, even if it meant a loveless marriage. Fortunately, this is no longer the case in our society, except in some countries. The best example of this change is the Spanish Royal family, where the prince married a middle-class working woman. This would have been unthinkable some years ago, as royalty used to marry only among themselves. However, from a genetic point of view, marrying only within a small group can be problematic, as it increases the risk of hereditary diseases.
Another clear difference is that, in the past, lower classes often could not afford education and had to work for a living. However, considering that a few years ago the majority of the population belonged to the lower classes, only a lucky few, an elite, had access to education. Today, most people belong to the middle class and have the opportunity to study, although some, unfortunately, do not value it.
However, social differences still exist in our society, often seen in exaggerated form among the wealthiest and most famous individuals, such as footballers, singers, intellectuals, etc. They belong to an economic elite that is far removed from the majority. In conclusion, classism, which Lorca harshly criticized, was common in his time. Fortunately, present-day society has evolved, and there is now a right to equality, reflecting the principle that everyone is equal, regardless of their social status.