Characters Flashcards
Who are the characters in the play?
Bernarda
Angustias
Magdalena
Amelia
Martirio
Adela
Maria Josefa
La Poncia
La Criada
Pepe el Romano
Prudencia
What is the name of Bernarda’s second husband who died?
Antonio Maria Benavides
How old is Angustias?
39
How old is Magdalena?
30
How old is Amelia?
27
How old is Martirio?
24
How old is Adela?
20
What does Bernarda Alba’s name symbolise?
Bernarda is derived from a German word meaning “strong like a bear”
Alba means “dawn” in Spanish, refers to whiteness which can be associated with purity or chastity
What does Adela’s name symbolise?
Derived from a German word meaning nobility
What does Angustias’ name symbolise?
Means “anguish” in Spanish
What does Martirio’s name symbolise?
Means “a person who suffers”
What is Bernarda obsessed with?
Cleanliness, reputation, social status, “el qué dirán”
How does Bernarda’s spotless, clean household relate to her social status?
She has a servant who cleans her house; reflects her wealth and status to be able to afford servants
What does Bernarda’s first line in the play establish?
Establishes her dominance over the other characters
How does Bernarda’s use of language represent her character/personality?
She uses the language of an absolute ruler; she gives orders and censures her behaviour
How does Bernarda increase her power?
By knowing more gossip about her neighbours/people around her
What is Bernarda’s greatest weakness?
She doesn’t want to know what goes on inside her daughters’ hearts
What is La Poncia’s relationship to Bernarda?
Her servant and informer; she acts as a bridge between Bernarda and her daughters by reporting any behaviours that might endanger Bernarda’s reputation
How would La Poncia’s personality be described?
As two-faced; in front of Bernarda she is respectful (respetuosa) and faithful but she declares her hatred for her behind her back
How would Adela’s personality be described?
As a free spirit; she doesn’t share the negative attitude of the future that her sisters have, she wants to be happy and leave the house as a free person
How does Adela oppose the mourning period and fight for freedom?
By handing Bernarda a colourful fan instead of a black one
By wearing a green dress instead of a black one
How is Angustias’ appearance described?
As sickly, thin and unattractive; she is so sickly that La Poncia suggests she will die when bearing her first child
Which character was the only one to cry at their father’s funeral and show affection for Adela?
Magdalena
How would Magdalena’s personality be described?
She is a sad person; she has lost hope for a better life and accepts her fate as a single woman
How would Amelia’s personality be described?
She is the least talkative out of the five sisters; she is timid and scared of Bernarda
She believes that there is no worse fate to be born a woman
How would Martirio’s personality be described?
She is a tormented and wicked woman with a physical deformity (a hump) and therefore she believes that she is never going to get married
She is secretly in love with Pepe and therefore she wants to destroy the relationship between him and Adela
About Martirio’s suitor; who was he? Why didn’t they get married?
She had a suitor called Enrique Humanes but he was considered unsuitable by Bernarda because his father was a farm labourer (gañán)
What fate does Maria Josefa predict for the daughters?
That none of them will marry
What phrase does Maria Josefa use to describe Bernarda?
cara de leoparda
face of a leopard
What phrase does Maria Josefa use to describe Magdalena?
cara de hiena
face of a hyena
What phrase does Maria Josefa use to describe Martirio?
cara de martirio
face of torment
How did La Criada feel about the death of Bernarda’s husband and why?
She was saddened by it because he was her secret lover
What does the dialogue between Bernarda and her neighbour Prudencia symbolise?
Symbolises Bernarda’s strict attitudes towards social behaviour and how Prudencia struggles due to these attitudes (her husband will not forgive their daughter)
How does Maria Josefa describe Pepe el Romano?
As a giant who is going to devour the woman in the house
