Key quotes

Question 1

“Fortunately I’m soon going to leave this hell.”

Angustias expresses her relief that she will be able to get out of the prison of Bernarda’s house by marrying Pepe

Answer 1

“Afortunadamente pronto voy a salir de este inferno.” - Angustias

Question 2

“This is how you have to talk in this damn town without a river, a town of wells, where you always drink the water in fear that it is poisoned.”

There is always the fear that somebody could sabotage you; no one is to be trusted in the village

Answer 2

“Es así como se tiene que hablar en este maldito pueblo sin río, pueblo de pozos, donde siempre se bebe el agua con el miedo de que esté envenenada” - Bernarda, Act 1

Question 3

“The poor are like animals. It looks as if they were made of other substances.”

Due to social class and status, Bernarda looks down on poor people and believes they are less human than her

Answer 3

“Los pobres son como animales. Parece como si estuvieran hechos de otras sustancias.” - Bernarda, Act 1

Question 4

“My blood does not meet with that of the Humanes while I live! His father was a farm labourer.”

Bernarda expresses how she will not mix with people below her in the social hierarchy (such as farmers)

Answer 4

“¡Mi sangre no se junta con la de los Humanes mientras yo viva! Su padre fue gañán” - Bernarda

Question 5

“Thread and needle for females. Whip and mule for the male.”

Represents the strict gender roles in 20th century Andalusia

Answer 5

“Hilo y aguja para las hembras. Látigo y mula para el varón.” - Bernarda, Act 1

Question 6

“During the 8 years of mourning, the wind from the street must not enter the house.”

Represents how nobody is allowed to open the door (which lets wind inside) and leave the house during the mourning period

Answer 6

“En ocho anos que dure el luto no ha de entrar en esta casa el viento de la calle.” - Bernarda, Act 1

Question 7

“Women in the church should look no more at men than at the (religious) officiant, and at that one because he has skirts. To turn your head is to look for the warmth of a mate.”

Bernarda explains how women should only be focussed on their religion and not be looking at men during the funeral

Answer 7

“Las mujeres en la iglesia no deben mirar más hombre que al oficiante, y a ése porque tiene faldas. Volver la cabeza es buscar el calor de la pana.” - Bernarda, Act 1

Question 8

“She is able to sit on top of your heart and watch you die for a year without that cold smile on her damn face closing.”

Represents Bernarda’s cold and evil personality

Answer 8

“Es capaz de sentarse encima de tu corazón y ver cómo te mueres durante un año sin que se le cierre esa sonrisa fría que lleva en su maldita cara.” - La Poncia

Question 9

“Silence!”

The first and last lines spoken by Bernarda, represents her dominating personality and how she needs the daughters to keep quiet to protect their status/image

Answer 9

“Silencio.” - Bernarda, Act 1 & Act 3

Question 10

“Magdalena, don’t cry.”

Bernarda is embarrassed by and disapproving of her daughters showing any emotion; it makes them look weak. Magdalena is the only daughter crying at the funeral.

Answer 10

“Magdalena, no llores.” - Bernarda, Act 1

Question 11

“You serve me and I pay you, nothing more!”

Bernarda’s response when Poncia asks if they are friends. Represents Bernarda’s high social status and how she believes she is above/better than her servants.

Answer 11

“Me sirves y te pago. Nada mas!” - Bernarda, Act 1

Question 12

“Women are cursed.”

Represents how women feel like they are treated worse by society than men e.g. forced to stay home, do household chores, cannot have relationships etc

Answer 12

“Malditas sean las mujeres.” - Magdalena

Question 13

“She has put on her green dress”.

Referring to Adela wearing a green dress and breaking the mourning period. Green represents Adela’s desire for freedom compared to black which represents repression and strict rules. Green also represents fertility which links to Adela’s possible pregnancy by Pepe.

Answer 13

“Se ha puesto el traje verde.” - Magdalena

Question 14

“I want to leave here! Bernarda! To get married by the sea shore, by the sea shore!”

Represents the repression faced by Maria Josefa; she has been locked up by Bernarda. Her idea of freedom is find true love without men wanting sexual gratification or money, to get married and have a baby.

Answer 14

“¡Quiero irme de aquí! ¡Bernarda! ¡A casarme a la orilla del mar, a la orilla del mar!” - Maria Josefa

Question 15

“But he came for money.”

Represents that marriage is a business deal; Pepe only wants to marry Angustias for her inheritance money

Answer 15

“Pero viene por el dinero.” - Magdalena

Question 16

“A daughter who disobeys stops being a daughter to become an enemy.”

Represents Bernarda’s obsession with status and appearance, she must have the perfect, most honourable family to prevent gossip. If her daughters disobey her rules, she sees this as sabotage to the family and they become her enemy.

Answer 16

“Una hija desobedece deja de ser hija para convertirse en una enemiga.” - Bernarda

Question 17

“A room with a white interior.”

White is an important recurring colour in the play; “Alba” means white in Latin, the daughters make white bridal sheets and clothing

Answer 17

“Habitación blanca del interior.” - stage notes

Question 18

“The stallion, he’s shut in and kicks at the wall. He must be hot.”

The stallion represents sexuality, passion, energy and a desire for freedom. He kicks the wall because he wants to be let out of the hot barn, similar to how the daughters act out (e.g. Adela wearing a green dress, Martirio stealing Pepe’s photo) because they want to be free from the prison of their house.

Answer 18

“El caballo garañón, que está encerrado y da coces contra el muro, … debe tener calor.” - Bernarda

Question 19

“She, the young daughter of Bernarda Alba has died a virgin. Have you heard me?”

Represents Bernarda’s obsession with reputation and status. It would be embarrassing if people found out Adela was not a virgin, (she likely had sexual relations with Pepe) she would be considered “easy” which would cause gossip. Therefore, Bernarda tells her family to lie and declares that Adela died a virgin to keep up their reputation.

Answer 19

“Ella la hija menor de Bernarda Alba ha muerto virgen. Me habéis oído?” - Bernarda, Act 3

Question 20

“I do with my body what I want!”

Represents Adela’s desire for freedom, especially sexual freedom. She doesn’t want to be controlled by Bernarda.

Answer 20

“Yo hago con mi cuerpo lo que me parece!” - Adela

Question 21

“Being born a woman is the greatest punishment.”

Again represents how women feel like they are treated worse by society than men e.g. forced to stay home, do household chores, cannot have relationships etc

Answer 21

“Nacer mujer es el mayor castigo.” - Amelia

Question 22

“The others, a lot of embroidered lace, many linen shirts, but bread and grapes for every inheritance.”

Represents how although they have nice physical clothing, the 4 daughters from Bernarda’s second marriage have no wealth value or inheritance, unlike Angustias who inherited a lot of wealth from her father (Bernarda’s first husband)

Answer 22

“Las demás, mucha puntilla bordada, muchas camisas de hilo, pero pan y uvas por toda herencia.” - La Poncia

Question 23

“They say she was going with her breasts out and Maximiliano was playing her like a guitar. A horror!”

An example of “el qué dirán”, gossiping and making up rumours about Paca la Roseta being an “easy woman”

Answer 23

“Dicen que iba con los pechos fuera y Maximiliano la llevaba cogida como si tocara la guitarra. ¡Un horror!” - La Poncia

Question 24

“No more Pepe el Romano.”

Martirio is so jealous of Adela that she lies to make it seem like Pepe is dead, when in fact he had escaped on his horse. This lie leads to Adela committing suicide because she can’t live without Pepe.

Answer 24

“Se acabó Pepe el Romano.” - Martirio

Question 25

(In a low voice) “Old overcooked lizard.”

Insulting Bernarda, represents how people keep up respectable appearances but in hushed voices, they are critical and gossip

Answer 25

(En voz baja) “Vieja lagarta recocida.” - Mujer 1, Act 1

Question 26

“The poet warns that these three acts are intended for a photographic documentary.”

Represents how Lorca created the play as a realistic social commentary

Answer 26

“El poeta advierte que estos tres actos tienen la intención de un documental fotográfico.” - Lorca

Question 27

“I don’t want to be locked up.”

Represents Adela’s desire for freedom and liberty

Answer 27

“Yo no quiero estar encerrada.” - Adela, Act 1

Question 28

“Here, the voices of imprisonment are over!” (Adela snatches the cane from her mother and splits it in two.) “This is what I do with the rod of the dominatrix.”

Represents Adela’s fight for freedom and the end of Bernarda’s dictatorship; the first time any of the daughters have so outwardly challenged Bernarda

Answer 28

“¡Aquí se acabaron las voces de presidio!” (Adela arrebata un bastón a su madre y lo parte en dos.) “Esto hago yo con la vara de la dominadora.” - Adela

Question 29

“Bernarda, I want a man to marry me and to have joy!”

Represents Maria Josefa’s fight for freedom and her desire to get married to be happy

Answer 29

“¡Bernarda, yo quiero un varón para casarme y para tener alegría!” - Maria Josefa

Question 30

“Tyrant of all those around her.”

Represents the tyrannical and controlling behaviour of Bernarda

Answer 30

“Tirana de todos los que la rodean.” - La Poncia

Question 31

“But I’m a good bitch.”

Represents how despite her hatred for Bernarda, La Poncia remains faithful to her like a dog

Answer 31

“Pero yo soy buena perra.” - La Poncia, Act 1

Question 32

“I know I’m not getting married. I’d rather take sacks to the mill.”

Represents how Magdalena has accepted her fate as a single woman who will never get married

Answer 32

“Sé que yo no me voy a casar. Prefiero llevar sacos al molino.” - Magdalena, Act 1

Question 33

“Not a drop of poetry! Reality! Pure realism!”

Represents Lorca’s intentions for the play to be a demonstration of realism

Answer 33

“Ni una gota de poesía! ¡Realidad! ¡Realismo puro!” - Lorca

Question 34

“Poetry rises from the book and becomes human.”

Represents Lorca’s appreciation for the art of poetry and how theatre engages an audience to think about human issues using poetry and song

Answer 34

“La poesia se levanta del libro y se hace humana.” - Lorca

Question 35

“I was awakened by thirst.”

Thirst is a symbol for sexual desire; when Adela says she is going to quench her thirst, she really means that she is going to fulfil her sexual desire by meeting with Pepe

Answer 35

“Me despertó la sed.” - Adela