The House of Bernarda Alba: A Study in Oppression
Characters
This drama focuses on the lives of women within a strict household.
Main Characters
- Bernarda (60): The tyrannical matriarch. Her language, filled with prescriptive words, reveals her domineering nature.
- Angustias (39): The eldest daughter, betrothed to Pepe el Romano for his wealth. Her primary desire is to escape her mother’s control.
- Magdalena (30): Mourns her lost youth and the prospect of marriage. Resigned to her mother’s authority.
- Amelia (27): The timid and fearful daughter, rarely speaking.
- Martirio (24): A complex character harboring resentment and jealousy towards her sisters, particularly Adela.
- Adela (20): The youngest daughter, full of vitality and unwilling to submit to her mother’s tyranny. Her defiance leads to a tragic end.
- La Poncia (60): The housemaid and Bernarda’s confidante, despite their mutual dislike.
- María Josefa (80): Bernarda’s mother, whose words, though seemingly mad, reveal truths about the family’s desires.
- Pepe el Romano (25): Though never physically present, he is the catalyst for the passions and conflicts within the house.
Main Themes
- Social Classes: Lorca depicts a society rigidly divided by class, with characters acutely aware of their social standing.
- Role of Women: Explores the oppression of women in society, highlighting the limited roles available to them.
- Oppressive Society: The constant gossip and hypocrisy of the village create a tense atmosphere, impacting Bernarda and her daughters.
- Tradition: Examines the impact of traditions like the eight-year mourning period and arranged marriages.
- Authoritarianism: Bernarda’s tyrannical rule and the suppression of her daughters’ desires.
- Desire for Freedom: The daughters’ yearning for escape and independence, most strongly embodied by Adela.
Subtopics
- Hate: The enforced confinement fuels resentment and hatred among the sisters.
- Envy: Angustias’s engagement to Pepe el Romano sparks envy in Adela and Martirio.
- Money: The importance of money and social status is highlighted by Angustias’s impending marriage.
Environment, Structure, and Poetic Realism
The play’s structure reflects the increasing tension within the house. Lorca’s poetic realism blends realistic elements with symbolic language.
Symbolism
- Water: Represents sexual desire and the contrast between stagnant wells and the freedom of the sea.
- Moon: Symbolizes eroticism and Adela’s passion for Pepe el Romano.
- White and Black: Represent life, purity, and death, respectively.
- Green: Represents both rebellion and death, foreshadowing Adela’s fate.
- Heat: Intensifies the dramatic tension and reflects the characters’ passions.
- Stallion: A symbol of virility and Pepe el Romano’s influence.
- Cane: Represents Bernarda’s tyrannical power.
- Names: The characters’ names often carry symbolic meaning, reflecting their personalities or fates.
- Walls: The fading white of the walls symbolizes the loss of purity throughout the play.
Dialogue and Language
Lorca’s masterful dialogue captures the characters’ individual voices and social context. The use of poetic language elevates everyday speech.
Character Names and Meanings
The names of the characters, such as Bernarda (meaning “bear strength”), Angustias (“anguish”), and Martirio (“martyrdom”), contribute to their characterization and foreshadow their destinies.