House of Bernarda Alba: form

House of Bernarda Alba: form

Form of ‘The House of Bernarda Alba’

Key Aspects

  • The play falls under the category of Three Act Structure. Each act escalates the conflict and tension of the play, leading towards a tragic climax.
  • The plot follows the traditional elements of Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action and Denouement.
  • ‘The House of Bernarda Alba’ is written as a Realism Play where the dialogue, characters and situations portray authenticity, reflecting Lorca’s observation of the society he was part of.

Three Act Structure

  • Act 1 introduces the characters, relationships, and conflicts in Bernarda’s household, serving as the exposition.
  • Act 2 develops these issues further and discusses the forbidden romance between Pepe and Adela representing the rising action.
  • Act 3 involves the tragic ending where Adela commits suicide marking the climax and the subsequent chaos serves as the falling action and denouement.

Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Denouement

  • The exposition lies in the underlying tension and resentment among the siblings, especially towards Adela, who refuses to conform.
  • The rising action unfolds with Adela’s secret relationship with Pepe.
  • The drama reaches its climax when Bernarda discovers the secret affair, followed by Adela’s suicide.
  • The falling action commences with Bernarda’s denial and declaration of Adela’s virginity.
  • The denouement is marked by Bernarda’s command of silence enforcing the idea of suppression and dominance.

Realism Play

  • The dialogues are an authentic reflection of the local dialect and the social structure of the time, abiding with the features of realism.
  • Characters are crafted to reflect accurate portrayals of people in their socio-cultural context, with a strong emphasis on character development and interaction.
  • The situations presented in the play, especially the tension of societal repression and the dynamics of class and societal expectations, are a mirror to the real societal issues of the time.

Understanding the form of ‘The House of Bernarda Alba’ allows a richer comprehension of how Lorca carefully constructed his play to reflect the societal norms of his time and to create an escalating dramatic tension leading to a devastating climax.