key themes in la casa de bernada alba

Question 1

women’s submissive nature

Answer 1

-They view marriage as the only way to escape or regain autonomy
Bernada act one ‘silencio’-
women cant speak freely
-hilo y aguja para las hembras , látigo y mula para el varon’
-have to do what a man wants
-they internalise patriarchal views
-Magdelena ‘to hell with being a woman’

-act 3 ‘Ella ha muerto virgen’-how society values reputation and submission over women authority

Question 2

Theme of class

Answer 2

-their family is much more wealthy
-servents and la poncia are corrupted by such distinctions

‘los pobres son como los animales’-dehumanises the. lower class

marriage is a tool for class mobility-eg. Pepe el Romano uses angustias for wealth rather than love

-lorca critiques how the upper class pretends to be morally superior while being more corrupt and controlling

‘cada clase tiene que hacer lo suyo ‘

No es por eso. Pero las personas decentes, y lo soy, no deben mirar a ningún hombre más que al que les propone.”-women in this class should act a certian way towards men

angustias uses marriage as a way to escape the class Afortunadamente pronto voy a salir de este infierno.”

You can link this theme to Lorca’s critique of fascist, patriarchal Spain, where class oppression was just as damaging as gender repression.

Question 3

religion

Answer 3

The funeral at the start sets the tone with religious rituals, reinforcing how religion dominates even private family life.
The women are expected to mourn in black for eight years, a tradition rooted in Catholic customs of grief and purity.

bernada uses her religion
as a way ago justify punishing others
-the stick symbolises her power and control

-catholic ideal of female obedience and purity Una hija que desobedece deja de ser hija para convertirse en enemiga.”
(“A daughter who disobeys ceases to be a daughter and becomes an enemy.”)

Nadie dirá nada. Ella ha muerto virgen.”
(“No one will say anything. She has died a virgin.”)
Context: After Adela’s suicide, Bernarda lies to protect her family’s honour and religious purity.

Adela’s suicide is symbolic of a martyr-like sacrifice, but also a rebellion against repressive moral and religious values.
Her desire for freedom and love contradicts the religious/patriarchal restrictions imposed on her.
Her fate echoes a tragic biblical fall — punished not for evil, but for desire.

Question 4

jealousy

Answer 4

matirio hides angustias photo under the bed

-No me acostumbro! Yo no quiero estar encerrada… ¡Yo quiero salir!”
(“I’m not used to it! I don’t want to be shut away… I want to go out!”)-jealous of angustias freedom

Quién me ha quitado la foto de Pepe que tenía debajo de mi almohada?”

Question 5

reputation

Answer 5

Bernada being the matriarch of the house values reputation above all as its tied to honour and social image .Also representing social hierarchy

-the 8yr time of mourning represents the reputation and biding by strict religion rules ,cares less about grief , more about the perception of others

Bernarda (Act 3): “Ella ha muerto virgen. ¡Silencio, silencio he dicho! ¡Silencio!”
(“She died a virgin. Silence, I said! Silence!”)
Context: Adela has taken her own life after Bernarda shoots at Pepe. Bernarda refuses to accept or acknowledge Adela’s affair.

Hilo y aguja para las hembras. Látigo y mula para el varón.”
(“Needle and thread for women. Whip and mule for men.”)
Bernarda imposes rigid gender roles to keep women silent, submissive, and reputation-safe.

the fact that Adela wears a green dress goes against their reputation

bernada fears gossip more

¡Silencio, he dicho! ¡Silencio!”
After Adela’s death, Bernarda’s only concern is that no one finds out about the affair, claiming “She died a virgin.”