Hierarchy+of+Power

= = HIERARCHY OF POWER

The hierarchy of Bernarda Alba's household:

· Bernarda Alba

· Daughters and Maria Josefa

· Maids

· Beggars

= = ● Men are absent from the household. As a result, the audience does not see clearly where they are situated in the hierarchy. However, it can be argued that in the play, Pepé's absence from the stage, yet his capability of throwing the household into chaos shows that he stands even higher than Bernarda. The play is also set in Spain under Franco's dictatorship. This shows the context to be a very male-dominated society. POWER OF SOCIETY AND SETTING STANDARDS OF WHAT IS ACCEPTABLE

= = ● "No one is to say a thing. She dies a virgin" (p.168) When Bernarda lies about her daughter Adela due to her affair with Pepé. Bernarda manipulates the truth in fear of social ostracism. ●The maids talking about Bernarda Alba before she enters the room. They explain how Bernarda Alba 'tyrannizes' (p120) everyone around her. This shows the oppression of society as we see the lack of free speech and free doing around Bernarda Alba. Everyone is to conform to society or Bernarda's household will get a bad reputation- this relates to the theme of gossip. ●Bernarda Alba is obsessed with cleanliness and the perception of purity this is proven when Poncia calls out 'She's coming! - Scrub everything clean. If Bernarda doesn't see things shine, she'll pull out the few hairs I have left!' (p120) To support this, the stage directions p(119) state 'A very white inner room...' The colour white has strong connotations of purity and at first glance cleanliness. This suggests that this is the impression Bernarda Alba wants to create. POWER OF MEN AND THE FREEDOM THAT THEY ENJOY

= = ● ‘A needle and thread for females: a mule and a whip for males. That’s how it is for people born with means’ (p126) EXPLANATION WITH RELATION TO THE THEME OF POWER? This shows what society of the time expected of the genders. Men were expected to contribute their labour in the fields, while women were confined to the household to deal with domestic issues. The 'whip' could be a symbol for power that the men hold. ● 'If only I could go out to the fields, too!' (p.144) Adela wishes that she could go out into the fields. It shows that the men, who we never see throughout this entire play, enjoy greater freedom. The women seemed to be imprisoned in Bernarda's house. The daughters are getting desperate just to leave the house. ● Maid: 'Rot away! Never again will you lift my skirts behind the back corral!' (p122) The maid was sexually abused by Antonio Maria Benavides. This shows women (especially of lower social status) are to be submissive to men. SEXUAL ABUSE OF THE MAID. QUOTATION? EXPLANATION?

BERNARDA'S AUTHORITARIAN POWER

= = ● ‘I have never let anyone lecture me’ (p.123). Although it seems no one challenges Bernarda Alba’s authority, at least to her face, she wants to make clear to everyone around that she is the head of the house and it’s her orders that rule.

● ‘Here you do what I tell you to do’ (page 126) This is where Bernarda, is demanding to her daughters and tells them to do only what she wants them to do, she never gives her daughter any freedom.

● ‘Answer me, where are you looking at’ (page 127) again we have Bernarda demanding to her daughters and not giving them their freedom on what to do even though they are grown up now.

= =

ALBA FAMILY'S STANDING IN SOCIETY

● ‘My blood will never mix with that of the Humanas family, not as long as I live’ (page 150). Here we can clearly see that Bernarda cares about her social status and she is disdainful of the lower classes. = = ● Magdalena: ‘Each class does what it must’ (p144) individuals are binded by the formalities and expectations of society and people must carry out the duties prescribed by society or they will gain an unwanted reputation.

●‘Silence! Silence, I said! Silence!’ (p. 169) Bernarda uses the imperative form of the word to order her family and maintain control. She doesn’t seem to care about her daughter’s death. She rather than lie to society to keep her good image. Ironically this shows, that society dictates the final terms. Not Bernarda. ● Bernarda: ‘For a hundred miles around, no one can measure up to them. The men here are not of their class’ (p.129) Bernarda does not allow her daughters to marry men of a lower social status. Her concern is the family's appearance rather than the happiness of her daughters. EXPLANATION OF CONTEXT? WHO SAYS THIS?

POWER OF MONEY

● Amelia: 'Angustias has all her father’s money. She is the only rich one in the house. That’s why now that our father is dead and the estate is being settled, they’re coming after her' (p133). The sisters discuss Angustias' engagement to Pepé. His interest in Angustias for her inheritance money shows how money is valued higher than love in that society. They are talking about their sister behind her back. This is showing the theme of gossip. This relates to the appearance vs. Reality theme. ● Magdalena: ‘If he wanted Angustias for herself, Angustias as a woman, I would be glad. But he wants her money.' (p.132)EXPLANATION OF CONTEXT? WHO SAYS THIS? Magdalena: ‘Money makes everything possible!’ (p.134) Magdalena informs Adela of the engagement. Adela, who at this point is implied to be in love with Pepé, refuses to believe it. = =

MAIDS' POWER

● ‘Today’s leftovers are for me’ and ‘get out of here’ (p122). BE MORE SPECIFIC- WHO EXACTLY SAYS THESE WORDS? The idea of fighting over leftovers shows that both these classes are towards the bottom of society and this quotation shows the maids have power over the beggars. = = ● 'I know my place, and I’m at peace' (p.160) this shows the acceptance of not being able to become a higher class. The fact that the maid’s refuse to fight to be equal shows the gross oppression of society and the lack of freedom to do anything but struggle for equality. SERVANTS AND THEIR PLACE IN SOCIETY PONCIA COMPLAINS OF BEING TREATED LIKE A DOG. QUOTATION? EXPLANATION?

= = ● ‘Less screaming and more work’ (p.123) and the words are spoken by Bernarda Alba who is at the top of this social class; she is the tyrant who controls everything and everyone. Also this quotation shows she considers herself of a higher status because she is richer than others. ● ‘Hold that vicious tongue, you are my servant and I pay you nothing more’ (page 129). This is where Bernarda is reminding her maids her class and where she stands and what she is expected to do and what she shouldn’t be doing, like giving advice. ● ‘The poor are like animals, they seem to be made of other substances’ (P.123). Cross-reference to Poncia who refers to herself as a dog, who has to obey Bernarda. FIND THE REFERENCE AND THE PAGE NUMBER

● ‘You are just servant, there is no point fighting with you’ (page 142) Adela reminds the maid of her standing in society. Arrogantly dismisses Poncia’s advice. ● ‘I do because I can afford to! And you don’t because you know very well what you come from’ (PAGE NUMBER?) WHAT IMPRESSION DO WE GET OF ADELA FROM THESE LINES?

= = ● Adela reminds Poncia of her place (p 142):‘Instead of cleaning the house and going to bed to pray for your dead, you go sticking your nose into the affairs of men and women like an old sow’. EXPLANATION OF THE QUOTATION?

● Within the maids there are still higher classes and lower classes. For example 'Poncia' is named whereas the 'maid' is not. The fact that the maid remains nameless throughout reveals that Poncia is at a higher level of society.

= = ● The members of the lower class can work as hard as they like but they will not get anything more beyond their regular treatment and pay. All they have is their 'hands and a hole to be buried in when they die'. (p121) This shows the maids lack of power compared to the higher classes. BERNARDA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH HER MOTHER

= = ● ‘The old lady, is she locked up tight’ (p119) Bernarda Alba locks up her own mother who has raised her. Shows she doesn’t seem to have morals, only worried about how society sees her. Although the maids are not exerting their power over Maria Josefa, at least they are not locked up, and through this it could be argued they have more freedom and are higher in the society class structure.

●'Go with her, and be sure she doesn't go near the well' and 'It's not that - out there, the neighbours can see her from the window' (page 127) Bernarda Alba treats her mother as a child; she lets the maid take care of her mother. Also, she orders the maid to be careful of her going near the well which might show that she is worried about her mother. However, she is not worried about her mother but is afraid that other people can see her. This shows that she cares more about what people think than her mother’s well being.