House of Bernarda Alba: genre

Genre of ‘The House of Bernarda Alba’

Key Aspects

Federico García Lorca labels ‘The House of Bernarda Alba’ as a ‘drama of women in the villages of Spain’.
The work can be categorised as a Tragic Drama showing a conflict that leads to inevitable disaster.
It also falls within the realm of Domestic Drama as it presents the reality of daily life and familial issues within a household.
Some elements of the Absurd Theatre are mixed in the play where the severe oppression and the isolation in the house imply an absurdity of human existence.

Tragic Drama

The play portrays the inevitability of tragedy owing to the unopposable authority of the domineering character, Bernarda.
Destiny and consequence play a heavy role, particularly in Act 3 when Adela takes her own life, culminating the mentioned inevitability of tragedy.

Domestic Drama

‘The House of Bernarda Alba’ concentrates on domestic issues, such as inheritance and marriage prospects.
It focuses on the lives of women in a rigidly patriarchal society. Their dreams, frustrations, and emotional turmoil are showcased.
Class conflict is another important aspect, most noticeably seen in the relationship between the daughters and the servant, La Poncia.

Absurd Theatre

The almost claustrophobic level of isolation experienced by the characters is reflective of absurd theatre.
The meaningless and futile resistance against Bernarda’s despotic rule can be seen as an example of the absurdity of human existence.
Symbolisation of the colour white to represent the sterility and emptiness of the characters’ lives is another element that aligns with traits of absurd theatre.

Always remember these genre aspects when analysing and interpreting ‘The House of Bernarda Alba’. Knowing the genre will often help you to identify the underlying themes, character motivations, and patterns within the drama.