Las de Barranco: A Story of Dignity and Survival

Las de Barranco: A Literary Analysis

Dramatic Structure

  1. Literary Genre: Dramatic Comedy
  2. Structure: Divided into four acts

The work is structured in four acts. The first two acts introduce the subject, while the third and fourth acts develop the central conflict and resolution.

Synopsis

Doña Maria, the widow of Captain Barranco, struggles to maintain her social status. She uses her daughter, Carmen, as bait to lure young suitors, hoping to gain financial stability through gifts and favors. However, love intervenes and disrupts her plans.

Plot Summary

Behind the festive air of comedy and humor, the play presents a bitter and cruel reality. Doña Maria, the widow of the austere Captain Barranco, survives on her husband’s meager pension. She subleases rooms in her house and unscrupulously seeks gifts and benefits from various suitors. In exchange, she forces smiles and pleasantries from her most resistant daughter, Carmen. The central theme is the portrayal of a family unwilling to accept their economic reality or seek honest work. Instead, they prefer to slowly erode their dignity, leading to their downfall.

Setting and Time

  • Setting: A boarding house in Buenos Aires
  • Time: Early 20th century

Characters

  • Doña Maria Barranco: Captain Barranco’s widow, the landlady of the boarding house
  • Carmen, Pepa, and Manuela: Daughters of Captain Barranco
  • Linares: A future tenant, in love with Carmen
  • Morales: A tenant and suitor of Carmen
  • Rocamora: A suitor of Carmen, works at a record company
  • Barroso: A suitor of Carmen, a dentist
  • Castro: A suitor of Carmen, a pension administrator
  • Petrona: Niece of Doña Maria
  • Pérez: Petrona’s boyfriend, a typesetter

Character Relationships and Qualities

  • Doña Maria: Lessee of the boarding house
  • Carmen: Possesses moral integrity and a strong sense of dignity
  • Linares and Morales: Both are educated and have progressive ideas. Linares is an agent of change, triggering the outcome, while Morales is a witness, interpreting the various situations.

Frames of Reference

  • Historical Importance: Set in early 1900s Buenos Aires
  • Social Context: Depicts a middle-class family in decline
  • Spiritual Context: A typical family of the time, accustomed to a lack of patriarchy, feels helpless

Structure and Development

  1. Introduction (Acts 1 & 2): Presents the family and tenants, introducing various situations and the central theme.
  2. Rising Action (Act 3): The conflict between Carmen and her mother intensifies. Carmen shows signs of transformation, while Doña Maria’s authority begins to crumble.
  3. Climax and Resolution (Act 4): The shortest act, where the developed characters and situations lead to a swift and final conclusion.

Title Justification

“Las de Barranco,” as the title suggests, refers to Doña Maria and her daughters, using the married name of Doña Maria. The story revolves around these four women and the hardships they endure after the death of Captain Barranco.

Closing Scene and Symbolism

The play concludes with the collapse of a table displaying medals. This symbolizes the fall of the family’s honor, mirroring the loss of Captain Barranco’s medals.

Personal Appraisal

“Las de Barranco” is a commendable work that emphasizes high moral values, particularly through the character of Carmen.