Jess Sheppard
La Casa de Bernarda Alba Character Notes- Prudenica
Prudencia is the neighbour of Bernarda, she is ten years younger than her.
She is a complete juxtaposition to Bernarda who rules her house with her stick, Prudencia
accepts her circumstances as she is in the midst of family conflict.
She is dispirited due to the fact that she is caught between family problems as her husband
fights with her brothers over an inheritance (this is something La Poncia attempts to initiate
between the Alba sisters.
She is depressed by her increasing blindness which will soon stop her from going to Church,
her one remaining consolation.
Her presence is brief but she is a figure of true pathos.
es un agente externo a la casa, por lo tanto, desconoce las intrincadas y destructivas
consecuencias de la dinámica de funcionamiento doméstico de Bernarda.
En su visita, pregunta ingenuamente por el futuro casamiento de Angustias: “Y Angustias,
¿cuándo se casa?”, desconociendo la tensión que se agravaba en la casa en torno a ese
tema. Esto da muestras, una vez más, de la nefasta eficacia de Bernarda a la hora de
aparentar y cuidar celosamente el “qué dirán”.
Por lo que ella cuenta en su visita a la casa de Bernarda Alba, sabemos que Prudencia es la
esposa de un marido que no se muestra por haberse peleado con sus hermanos por una
herencia. A esto, Bernarda responde: “Es un verdadero hombre”. Otra vez, la situación nos
vale para dar cuenta clara de lo estricta y orgullosa que es Bernarda.
También, sabemos que Prudencia tiene una hija, a la que su marido “no ha perdonado”.
Desconocemos el porqué, pero esto apena profundamente a Prudencia, tanto que declara:
“Yo dejo que el agua corra. No queda más consuelo que refugiarme en la iglesia”.
Prudencia es una mujer conservadora, que, como Bernarda, cuida la honra e imagen
(aunque en ocasiones le duela y lo reconozca). Representa, naturalmente, como su nombre
lo indica, a la virtud de la Prudencia, aunque en este contexto no resulta enteramente
buena. En los pueblos de España, ser prudente es hablar lo justo y necesario, y seguir
rigurosamente los protocolos para ser socialmente aceptado, reprimiendo ideas y
emociones.
Prudencia’s story offers a parallel to Bernarda up to a point but a contrast in her resolution
of problems. She also supplies information that foreshadows the tragic end.
She is an embodiment of resignation and wisdom that comes with old age.
In Bernarda’s family, ill feelings have arisen over the division of an inheritances and
Prudencia’s husband has also quarrelled with his brothers over it. Bernarda claims that he is
a true man.
The husband of Prudencia feels dishonoured by his brothers and daughter, he refuses to
enter the street and so cuts himself off from the entire village.
In the family home Prudencia does not intervene, instead she takes refuge in the Church.
She places her life in the hands of god and passively submits.
Both Prudencia and Bernarda follow God but in a completelt different way. Prudencia has a
passive approach, whereas Bernarda shapes her life through her own rigorous manifesto.
The blindness of Prudencia is a physicalisation of Bernarda’s passivity to the activities of her
daughters.
The Church gives Prudencia meaning to her life.
Prudencia: Ya sabes sus costumbres. Desde que se peleó con sus hermanos por la herencia
no ha salido por la puerta de la calle. Pone una escalera y salta las tapias del corral.
Bernarda: Es un verdadero hombre. ¿Y con tu hija...?
Prudencia’s husband is very similar to Bernarda they both have a strict code of honour that
they believe are cultural customs. His actions define the extent as to which his family have
La Casa de Bernarda Alba Character Notes- Prudenica
Prudencia is the neighbour of Bernarda, she is ten years younger than her.
She is a complete juxtaposition to Bernarda who rules her house with her stick, Prudencia
accepts her circumstances as she is in the midst of family conflict.
She is dispirited due to the fact that she is caught between family problems as her husband
fights with her brothers over an inheritance (this is something La Poncia attempts to initiate
between the Alba sisters.
She is depressed by her increasing blindness which will soon stop her from going to Church,
her one remaining consolation.
Her presence is brief but she is a figure of true pathos.
es un agente externo a la casa, por lo tanto, desconoce las intrincadas y destructivas
consecuencias de la dinámica de funcionamiento doméstico de Bernarda.
En su visita, pregunta ingenuamente por el futuro casamiento de Angustias: “Y Angustias,
¿cuándo se casa?”, desconociendo la tensión que se agravaba en la casa en torno a ese
tema. Esto da muestras, una vez más, de la nefasta eficacia de Bernarda a la hora de
aparentar y cuidar celosamente el “qué dirán”.
Por lo que ella cuenta en su visita a la casa de Bernarda Alba, sabemos que Prudencia es la
esposa de un marido que no se muestra por haberse peleado con sus hermanos por una
herencia. A esto, Bernarda responde: “Es un verdadero hombre”. Otra vez, la situación nos
vale para dar cuenta clara de lo estricta y orgullosa que es Bernarda.
También, sabemos que Prudencia tiene una hija, a la que su marido “no ha perdonado”.
Desconocemos el porqué, pero esto apena profundamente a Prudencia, tanto que declara:
“Yo dejo que el agua corra. No queda más consuelo que refugiarme en la iglesia”.
Prudencia es una mujer conservadora, que, como Bernarda, cuida la honra e imagen
(aunque en ocasiones le duela y lo reconozca). Representa, naturalmente, como su nombre
lo indica, a la virtud de la Prudencia, aunque en este contexto no resulta enteramente
buena. En los pueblos de España, ser prudente es hablar lo justo y necesario, y seguir
rigurosamente los protocolos para ser socialmente aceptado, reprimiendo ideas y
emociones.
Prudencia’s story offers a parallel to Bernarda up to a point but a contrast in her resolution
of problems. She also supplies information that foreshadows the tragic end.
She is an embodiment of resignation and wisdom that comes with old age.
In Bernarda’s family, ill feelings have arisen over the division of an inheritances and
Prudencia’s husband has also quarrelled with his brothers over it. Bernarda claims that he is
a true man.
The husband of Prudencia feels dishonoured by his brothers and daughter, he refuses to
enter the street and so cuts himself off from the entire village.
In the family home Prudencia does not intervene, instead she takes refuge in the Church.
She places her life in the hands of god and passively submits.
Both Prudencia and Bernarda follow God but in a completelt different way. Prudencia has a
passive approach, whereas Bernarda shapes her life through her own rigorous manifesto.
The blindness of Prudencia is a physicalisation of Bernarda’s passivity to the activities of her
daughters.
The Church gives Prudencia meaning to her life.
Prudencia: Ya sabes sus costumbres. Desde que se peleó con sus hermanos por la herencia
no ha salido por la puerta de la calle. Pone una escalera y salta las tapias del corral.
Bernarda: Es un verdadero hombre. ¿Y con tu hija...?
Prudencia’s husband is very similar to Bernarda they both have a strict code of honour that
they believe are cultural customs. His actions define the extent as to which his family have
