House of Bernarda Alba: social context

Setting

The play is set in Andalusia, the southern region of Spain. It symbolises the rural Spain of the 1930s encapsulating conservative, religious, and patriarchal social norms.
The characters’ lives revolve around traditional roles, honour, and reputation.

Spanish History and Politics

Written in 1936 just before the start of the Spanish Civil War, ‘The House of Bernarda Alba’ reflects societal issues of the time.
The play’s themes of oppression, gender inequality, and conflict echo the political and social unrest that led to the civil war.
The oppressive rule of Bernarda mirrors the dictatorship of Franco.

Gender Roles and Sexuality

Exploring restrictive gender roles, the play presents a scrutiny of women’s lives in a patriarchal society.
The all-female household highlights the issues of sexual repression, power dynamics, and disobedience class.
Bernarda’s severe control over their daughters’ sexuality reflects society’s oppressive control over women’s bodies and lives.

Social Class

The Alba household’s emphasis on reputation reflects the importance of social status in rural Spanish society.
Social class plays a major role in marriage proposals and acceptance, as shown by Angustias’ engagement to Pepe el Romano.

Religion

The play’s Spanish Catholic setting enforces strict moral codes, which heavily restrict women’s freedom and behaviour.
Bernarda strictly adheres to Catholic rituals of mourning demonstrating the integral role of religion in society.

Understanding the social context of ‘The House of Bernarda Alba’ gives depth to interpretation and performance. With this, you can perceive the characters’ actions and motivations, identifying the societal pressures they endure. Notably, the social context also helps in decoding Lorca’s critique of society’s oppressive nature and the desperate longing for individual freedom.

Social Context of ‘The House of Bernarda Alba’