La Casa de Bernarda Alba

60 madre de la casa concerned with reputation, society, honor etc etc When Adela dies Bernarda insists on silence, no tears and that Adela died a virgin (even though she told Adela she was a prostitute before she shot at Pepe... hmmmmm) only concerned with reputation her tyranny is based in fear. She does not hate her daughters, but rather hates women because their natural sexual desires in her world lead to pain first and last words that Bernarda says are "Silence!"

oldest sister 39 Different father than the others - she has a large fortune Pepe asked her to marry him (ring w three pearls - pearls signify something negative?) for her money Narrow waisted & old - La Poncia says she'd die in childbirth Admits later on that pepe doesn't make her happy - he won't talk to her - Bernarda tells her not to worry about that not to ask husband to talk whose name in translation suggests "anguish," is the oldest, and quite sickly

2nd sister - 30 not much about her.. most upset about her father's death in Act 1

3rd sister 27 not much about her either... least critical of Bernarda

4th sister - 24 also in love w Pepe but not reciprocated heard noises at stable late at night - accuses Adela and pepe tries to stop Adela from getting with Pepe in act 3 - which causes everyone to wake by shouting for Bernarda / Bernarda to shoot at him / Adela to hang herself... sooooo seems to be the most vengeful sister (vengativa) Martirio, whose name in translation suggests "suffering," is highly depressed There are indications in later acts that she is a hunchback.

5th / youngest daughter 20 felt queasy in act 2 (is she preggo w Pepe's child?) accused of sleeping w Pepe by Martirio & La poncia Pepe came the second time to see Adela in act 2 pepe "loves/lusts" for adela but wants Angustias for her inheritance Wears green instead of black - not mourning her father's death hangs herself at the end b/c she thinks Pepe has died - not worth living w/o him Everything she does speaks to her love of life and true individuality. Adela, whose holding of her stomach tells us she is likely pregnant herself Drinks lots of water in act 3- water represents life, represents her wanting to drink up life but is often unable or told no When she breaks Bernarda's cane, she reveals herself master of the world, since that action symbolizes her refusal to follow the strict orders of the world. However, her suicide that follows so quickly afterward suggests that her strength was in some ways a ruse

aged 60 the head servant of the house used to strike her husband? seems all-knowing doesn't like how bernarda runs the house Always in everyone's business

age 80 Madre de Bernarda - crazy represents how stifling seclusion makes you crayyyy comes out and says crazy things in act 3 but she's sort of right

the fact that this play has ONLY female characters - pretty significant. The only male in the family dies before the action begins shows how women are stifled in society - the double standard and expectations of them can't leave the house can't have romance the neighbor girl who is killed for killing the child she had out of wed-lock Bernarda's continual worry about appearances etc even in the end - Bernarda says ella no puede disparar una pistola porque de su sexo....

to hang

the noose

represents pepe the horses are parralels to the characters in a way? Bernarda breeds horses -controlling their sexuality - she also attempts to control the sexuality of her daughters but it doesn't work out so well now does it? Bernarda says she's going to set the stallion loose on the mares - parallel to Pepe going loose on the Alba girls

las perlas representan las lagrimas (tears o llorar). Hay tres perlas porque hay tres hermanas que aman Pepe tambien el triangulo de amo

blank white (contrast to black which is what they wear at first) never changes always in the same room simboliza que las hermanas son atrapadas La poncia dijo que las hermanas viven como son atrapadas en un armario (cupboard)

something about the girls names are religious? suggests that the church is meant to help us accept the unhappiness in our lives rather than bringing happiness directly

represents something...

3 perlas - 3 espejos en la cómoda

representa la vida - Adela keeps asking for water but doesn't seem able to receive any

suppression (de mujeres) etc

Lorca paints a picture of women whose sexuality manifests in ugliness and spite because it is prohibited from surfacing in its natural way.