Rebellion

= REBELLION =

**//Introduction://** Rebellion is an important aspect of the play. The rebellion is a microcausm that shows the contempt the people have for the dictatorship that was currently in place in Spain. Through the rebellion in the play we see the hatred harboured by the opressed daughters for their mother. Bernarda Abla is a symbol for the dictator and the daughters are seen as the victims of the ruthless rule in Spain. Additionally the rebellion of the daughters also show the harsh social guidelines imposed on women during the period in which the play was set. The rebellion taking place within the play expresses what Lorca saw as the tragic life of Spanish women.

** ACT 1 **
//**Quotations:**//

__MAIDS' REBELLION__


 * 'But she’ll be the loser – I’ve opened her jar of sausages'** (p119) - small acts of rebellion by the maids; this shows how much they want to rebel yet the small nature of their rebellion shows how they are too scared to do more.


 * 'I’m a good dog...but someday I’ll be sick of it'** (p120) – Poncia hopes of rebellion one day yet that day is not today. Dog imagery also reinforces Poncia's obedience and servitude, however, just as some dogs can kill thier master, Poncia has the potential to rebel.


 * 'never again will you lift up my skirts behind the back corral'** (p122) – Bernarda’s husband’s rebellion against their marriage as he has an affair with their maid. Goes against the vows of marriage.

__DAUGHTERS' REBELLION__


 * 'To hell with being a woman!'** (p126) Magdelena rebels against not only Bernarda but also against social norms and woman’s expected place in society. BRIEFLY MENTION THE CONTEXT


 * Adela: 'I will not get used to it!'** (p134) Adela refuses to follow Bernarda's strict mourning customs. The green dress suggest fertility (her relationship with Pepe)- a new life. Adela wants to escape her mother's repressive control. Could also suggest envy- Adela is envious of Angustias as she can marry Pepe and Martirio's jealousy of Adela. Green can also represent the fields- the domain of men who are free to wander unlike the women who are imprisoned. Additionally, green is a vibrant colour, and in constrast with the black colour for mouring.


 * ‘Augustias enters with her face heavily powdered'** (p135) – Insulting her step-father's memory by looking like she is not in mourning and look attractive to men.


 * "Tomorrow I'll put on my green dress..."** (p134) - The green dress symbolizes rebellion/freedom. She associates the colour of green with freedom, using a particularly vibrant colour which opposes the dull colour of black which they are all forced to wear as a sign of mourning.

** ACT 2 **
**//Quotations://**

__MAID'S REBELLION__

__Poncia:__ ‘Yes, and I almost put his eye out!’ Magdalena: ‘That’s how all women should be!’ ** (pg 139) In this society, women are meant to be submissive to men. The fact that Poncia acts so violently towards a man shows that she is not a docile woman, and she goes against the conventions of society. Foreshadows future rebellion?  **‘__Poncia:__ Don’t defy me, Adela, don’t defy me! Because I can raise my voice, light the lamps and make the bells ring!’** (pg 142) In this instance, we see Poncia threatening her employer’s daughter. Maids were meant to be submissive to their employers, but in this case Poncia is the rebel. Here, Adela is rebelling because of Poncia's threat to keep an extremely close eye on her and to report back to Bernarda. WHY IS ADELA REBELLING?  __DAUGHTER'S REBELLION__  **‘__Martirio [__fiercely]: Don’t you hit me, Mother! __Bernarda:__ As much as I want! __Martirio:__ If I let you! Do you hear that? Get away! __Poncia:__ Don’t be disrespectful to your mother! __Angustias:__ Leave her alone! Please! __Bernarda:__ There aren’t even tears left in those eyes! __Martirio:__ I’m not going to cry just to please you’** (pg 148) Martirio uses the imperative tone on her mother, when she’s meant to be submissive Angustias also pleads with Bernarda to let Martirio go – trying to change her mother’s mind. Martirio does not submit to Bernarda’s tyranny and doesn’t cry. She refuses to give Bernarda the satisfaction of seeing her cry. Exclamation marks show that it is a rapid furious exchange among the daughters and Bernarda
 * __Martirio:__** **‘Is it true that you hit him, sometimes?

__ADELA'S REBELLION__

**‘__Adela:__ I wouldn’t fight you - you’re just a servant – I’d fight my mother, to put out this fire that rises from my legs and mouth’** (pg 142) This quote indicates Adela’s desire to go against her mother’s authority. ‘Fire’ gives an image of rage – shows that her daughter feels that she has had enough. Also, refers to sexual desire, which she isn't permitted to feel.  **Adela: 'I'll do what I want with my body'** (p140) Contrasts with Bernarda who decides her daughters' marriage. Foreshadows the illicit relationship she has with Pepe and eventually her decision to take her life.


 * Bernarda's daughter, except for Adela are sewing** (p.137). These stage directions show that all the daughters are conforming to social expectations by sewing except for Adela. her absence signifies her rebellion.

__BERNARDA'S BLINDNESS__

**//‘__Bernarda:__ Fortunately, my daughters respect me and have never gone against my will. __Poncia:__ That’s true. But as soon as you turn them loose, they’ll be up on the roof! __Bernarda:__ I will bring them down soon enough, by throwing stones at them’//** //(pg 151) // Bernarda thinks her daughters are extremely obedient. However, we know from other parts of the act that her daughters are prepared to do things behind her back. Also, Adela has already defied Bernarda by her secret affair with Pepe. This is an example of dramatic irony. Poncia indicates that as soon as Bernarda allows her daughters a little bit of freedom they will take full advantage of it. Brutality of Bernarda- reinforces the idea of using violence to get obedience- Fascism.

= ACT 3 =

Quotations
__ADELA'S REBELLION__

Adela prefers changes in the status quo, whereas Bernarda strives to maintain it. 'Blazing' creates a powerful image of Adela's angry emotions - we normally associate fire with rage. WHAT KIND OF EMOTIONS? BE MORE SPECIFIC AND DETAILED. This accentuates how cornered Adela feels, and shows that she has had enough.
 * ‘Adela: I like to see things blazing through the sky, after being motionless year after year.’ – ** (pg 159)

 **‘Adela: No one is going to stop me!’** (pg 167) Adela makes it clear that she is taking a stand against Bernarda's tyranny and oppression.

<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">**‘Adela: [She seizes her mother’s cane and breaks it in two.] This is what I do with the tyrant’s rod! Don’t take one step more. No one gives me orders but Pepe!’ –** (pg 167) The cane here was a symbol for Bernarda's authority, and Adela has snapped it,suggesting that she will no longer bow down to Bernarda's orders. Here Adela seems to be contradicting herself. She takes her stand against tyranny, but then submits herself to Pepe's rule. This is an example of verbal irony.

<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">This links back to Adela's quote that she will do 'whatever she wants with her body'. Adela has unlocked her sexuality which Bernarda has kept locked away for a long time. This is also en example of rebellion against the morality of society - having affairs was looked down upon. Martirio rebelling against sisterhood. She wants to betray Adela since Adela is refusing to conform to he sisters’ words on morality.
 * ‘Martirio: [Pointing at Adela] She was with him! Look at her petticoats covered with straw!’ –** (pg 167)

**Adela's Suicide** <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">Adela's suicide could be considered as her final act of rebellion, as she has done exactly 'what [she] wants to with her own body'. By committing suicide, she has tarnished the family's reputation, which is something Bernarda tried so hard to maintain.

__PONCIA'S REBELLION__

<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">Here, Poncia claims that while rebellion isn't evident through the daughters' actions, emotions cannot be controlled by Bernarda and will always be rebellious. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB"> __MARIA JOSEFA'S REBELLION__ <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB"> **'Maria Josefa: Just because I have white hair you think I can't have babies.'** – (pg 164) <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB"> Here, Maria Josefa is rebelling against the laws of nature, as she is not meant to have children at that age She's carrying around a lamb and calling it her baby, and says she's going to have babies with 'white hair' - not natural. The fact that even the laws of Mother Nature are being ignored exaggerates the extent to which chaos is occurring. She is trying to rebel against the laws of nature <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 150%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB">
 * ‘Poncia: Nothing is happening on the surface, it’s true. Your daughters are tucked away in a cupboard, and that’s how they live. But neither you nor anyone else can see into their hearts.’ –** (pg160)