“En ‘La Casa de Bernarda Alba’, es muy importante la diferencia entre
las clases sociales”- ¿Estás de acuerdo?
“In ‘La Casa de Bernarda Alba’, the differences between social classes
are very important”- Do you agree?
Plan/Summary
● Lorca criticises the class system in the play by highlighting the cruelty of
the extremely classist Bernarda.
○ Although Bernarda seems to only care about wealth and class,
it’s implied that her money and status are waning in a changing
society. Her desperation to cling to it is what leads to her cruelty.
○ Lorca was a socialist writer, supportive of the Second Republic in
Spain. This is seen in his social ideas. Lorca shows how hatred
and classism leads to tragedy.
● The social hierarchy
○ The beggar-woman represents the desperation and vulnerability
of poor people. The maid compares her to a dog.
○ Bernarda then says “the poor are like animals” in reference to the
maid, showing the cycle of oppression. The house is like a
microcosm of the general class pyramide, with Bernarda at the
top.
● Bernarda’s treatment of Poncia
○ Poncia has worked for Bernarda for thirty years, but Bernarda
treats her like a stranger.
● Bernarda’s classism and marriage
○ Bernarda prevents her daughters from getting married because
she believes that nobody in the town (except Pepe el Romano) is
their social equal. This is seen when Bernarda does not allow
, Martirio to marry Enrique Humanes because his father was a
farmhand.
○ It is Bernarda’s hatred that turns her into a tyrant.
○ This classism leads to the repression of Bernarda’s daughters, as
well as those who Bernarda sees as their social inferiors. This
portrays this elitism as an inherently corrupt and oppressive force.
○ The daughters suffer from Bernarda’s control because of the
divisions between social classes and the hatred that these
divisions cause in society.
● The engagement between Angustias and Pepe el Romano.
○ Wealth and class dominate the relationship between Angustias
and Pepe el Romano. Angustias is engaged to Pepe because he
is the only man in the town that Bernards deems to be of
sufficient status. Pepe is engaged to Angustias because she has
inherited the most money from her deceased stepfather. The
expectations attached to this wealth destroy Angustias’ chances
of happiness, as she knows that she will be unhappy in the
marriage as she does not love Pepe.
○ Bernarda is willing to sacrifice her daughter’s happiness to
maintain her social status.
● The daughters envy the freedom of the others in town, wishing to work
in the fields in the fresh air. This demonstrates that the divisions
between social classes do not only hurt the poor, but restrict the more
fortunate as well.
Essay Below
Grade: A
las clases sociales”- ¿Estás de acuerdo?
“In ‘La Casa de Bernarda Alba’, the differences between social classes
are very important”- Do you agree?
Plan/Summary
● Lorca criticises the class system in the play by highlighting the cruelty of
the extremely classist Bernarda.
○ Although Bernarda seems to only care about wealth and class,
it’s implied that her money and status are waning in a changing
society. Her desperation to cling to it is what leads to her cruelty.
○ Lorca was a socialist writer, supportive of the Second Republic in
Spain. This is seen in his social ideas. Lorca shows how hatred
and classism leads to tragedy.
● The social hierarchy
○ The beggar-woman represents the desperation and vulnerability
of poor people. The maid compares her to a dog.
○ Bernarda then says “the poor are like animals” in reference to the
maid, showing the cycle of oppression. The house is like a
microcosm of the general class pyramide, with Bernarda at the
top.
● Bernarda’s treatment of Poncia
○ Poncia has worked for Bernarda for thirty years, but Bernarda
treats her like a stranger.
● Bernarda’s classism and marriage
○ Bernarda prevents her daughters from getting married because
she believes that nobody in the town (except Pepe el Romano) is
their social equal. This is seen when Bernarda does not allow
, Martirio to marry Enrique Humanes because his father was a
farmhand.
○ It is Bernarda’s hatred that turns her into a tyrant.
○ This classism leads to the repression of Bernarda’s daughters, as
well as those who Bernarda sees as their social inferiors. This
portrays this elitism as an inherently corrupt and oppressive force.
○ The daughters suffer from Bernarda’s control because of the
divisions between social classes and the hatred that these
divisions cause in society.
● The engagement between Angustias and Pepe el Romano.
○ Wealth and class dominate the relationship between Angustias
and Pepe el Romano. Angustias is engaged to Pepe because he
is the only man in the town that Bernards deems to be of
sufficient status. Pepe is engaged to Angustias because she has
inherited the most money from her deceased stepfather. The
expectations attached to this wealth destroy Angustias’ chances
of happiness, as she knows that she will be unhappy in the
marriage as she does not love Pepe.
○ Bernarda is willing to sacrifice her daughter’s happiness to
maintain her social status.
● The daughters envy the freedom of the others in town, wishing to work
in the fields in the fresh air. This demonstrates that the divisions
between social classes do not only hurt the poor, but restrict the more
fortunate as well.
Essay Below
Grade: A
