Hypocrisy

=HYPOCRISY OR APPEARANCE VERSUS REALITY©=

Hypocrisy is a significant theme in this play because it shows the corrupt nature of the characters in the household, which is influenced by the tyrannical, image-conscious Bernarda, as well as the society that seems to breed such a trait. The insiduous nature of hypocrisy creates the gradual build of tension and hostility amongst the characters in the play.
 * __Act 1__**

__**BERNARDA**__ Poncia says this about Bernarda Alba, who wants to know what's going on with her neighbours, yet insists on her own family's appearances being perfect and spotless. In the society portrayed in the play, gossip seems to play an extremely important role as a source of information. The fact that the maids are, in some cases, more up-to-date than their employers makes it seem as though they are in a position of greater power due to the information that they have.
 * 'Entire days peering through cracks to spy on the neighbours and bring her gossip' (p.120)**

Bernarda Alba exhibits fake hospitality towards the men for the sake of appearances, she doesn't really want them to be there.
 * 'Give some [lemonade] to the men... I don't want them coming through here.' (p.123)**


 * 'Go home and criticise everything you've seen'** **(p.125)** Bernarda says this to the guests after the funeral. Bernarda appears bitter about the fact that her guests will judge everything about her house, yet she herself judges people about everything they own and do as well.

__**MAIDS**__
 * 'In the end you'll be the same as me. Rot away, Antonio... Rot away! Never again will you lift up my skirts behind the back corral!' (p.122)** The maid is glad that Antonio has died, he seems to have abused his power and as a result is disliked by her. However, when the women mourners start to enter, she changes her stance so that she appears to mourn for his loss: **'Of those who served you, I loved you the most!' (p.122)**

Bernarda: '...[With curiosity] What were they talking about? Poncia: 'They were talking about Paca la Roseta'** **(p.128)** Poncia says that the men's conversation that Angustias was listening to after the funeral is not fit to hear, yet she has no problem with recounting what she heard to Bernarda Alba. She is effectively doing the same thing as Angustias, and Bernarda, though she doesn't want her daughters eavesdropping, is still interested in what they say. This incident exposes the hypocritical nature of Poncia. While it appeared as though she regarded the men's conversation as one that was not "fit to hear", in reality, she herself knew the details of the same conversation.
 * Poncia: 'Listening to the men's conversation - which, as always, was not fit to hear'

__**DAUGHTERS**__ Amelia: Me too. Angustias has good qualities. Magdalena: Neither one of you is glad! Martirio: Magdalena, really! Magdalena: If he wanted Angustias for herself, Angustias as a woman, I would be glad. But he wants her money. Even though Angustias is our sister, in this family we know she’s old...' (p.132)** Even though the characters in the play are sisters, they have no loyalty* towards one another nor are they ever altruistically happy for each other. They are selfish and look out for themselves, wanting Pepe for themselves, and not Angustias, or each other. Their relationship cannot be said to be close and sisterly - instead selfishly with limited family bond. Pepe is also hypocritical, because he is engaged to Angustias, and should therefore love her and commit to her, however he is also seeing Adela behind Angustias' back.
 * Martirio: I’m glad, he’s good looking.


 * Further evidence of disloyalty between the sisters- **Adela: 'They teach us to love our sisters. God must have abandoned me out in the middle of the darkness, because I see you as if I had never seen you before!" (p.166).** Here she is speaking to Martirio.

"I never could stand your hypocrisy" - Magdalena** **(p.133)** Martirio appears to defend Angustias and is happy for her, e.g. 'I'm glad. He's good-looking' yet in the end she is in love with and wants Pepe for herself - emphasizing her hypocrisy. Magdalena seems to be able to tell that Martirio is not truly happy for her sister.
 * 'Not [be natural] to come looking for the gloomiest person in this house" -** Magdalena refers to how unnatural it is for Pepe to be interested in Angustias.
 * "Maybe he likes that" - Martirio

__**Act 2**__ __BERNARDA__ Bernarda hits Martirio with her cane for hiding Angustias' picture of Pepe - **'May God strike you dead, you two faced scorpion!'** She later defends Martirio against Poncia - **[//wanting to cover up for her daughter//] 'After all, she says it was a joke.' ... 'I don't believe it - it is so!'** Bernarda first scolds Martirio for hiding Angustias' picture of Pepe, yet not long after she defends her in front of Poncia, believing her and giving her the benefit of the doubt. Bernarda acts in a hypocritical manner because in front of different people she acts in different ways when the same issue is being discussed. **(p.142)**


 * 'That's what you should do: work and keep your mouth shut'** - Bernarda tells Poncia that she should be doing her job instead of gossiping about other people. [CF to **'You are my servant, and I pay you' (p.129)**]. However, earlier in the play, Bernarda makes Poncia go and spy on the neighbours in order to bring her gossip, which is exactly what Bernarda is now telling her not to do. Bernarda doesn't seem to mind gossiping as long as it not her family that is the subject. **(p.151)**

__**DAUGHTERS**__ Also, Martirio later says '**I'll tear you out of his arms!'** **(p.153)**, admitting that she also has fallen for Pepe, despite her saying that she didn't want a man. Martirio is hypocritical because she tries to conceal her true feelings, which are burning with passion and craving for Pepe. She is restrictive by her mother and does not seem to have Adela's courage and defiance. Adela, makes it harder for Martirio to cover up her feelings, as she confronts and challenges her to reveal her true feelings.
 * 'I have no need to exhibit myself to anyone' (p.143)** - Martirio declares that she doesn't need a man, yet she keeps Angustias's photo of Pepe, saying it was a joke - however, later on in the act Adela says '**It was something else, exploding in your heart, wanting to come out! Admit it openly, once and for all!' (p.148)**


 * 'A vicious tongue never stops lying!' (p.148)**-Adela tries to get Martirio to admit to also loving Pepe, and judges her for lying about it after Maritirio tries to avoid telling the truth. This is also hypocritical as Adela herself wants Pepe for herself, despite her accusing Martirio of wanting him. Adela is also keeping her affair a secret.

Martirio: '[With a double meaning]: That's it, that's it! A little stray mule'** **(p.146)** Martirio refers to Pepe as a 'little stray mule' implying that he is not attractive or important to her, yet she longs for him to love her too.
 * Adela: 'Perhaps a little stray mule'


 * 'All right - it's your family we're dealing with. But if it were the neighbour across the street - what would you think?'** **(p.150)** Poncia is talking to Bernarda about Martirio and why she took Angustias' picture of Pepe. Bernarda refuses to believe that it was anything but a joke, yet Poncia points out that if it were another family who was undergoing the same thing, she wouldn't be so quick to defend the taking of the picture.


 * ACT 3**
 * 'Turn him loose before he kicks down the walls!' (p.156)** - Bernarda refers to the stallion who is trying to break free from his containment, whereas she refuses to give her daughters the freedom that they long for. Bernarda believes that it is unwise for strong 'characters' to be kept in containment, with limited freedom, as she believes that they are likely to cause damage to the walls etc, yet Bernarda refuses to believe that her keeping her daughters hidden away in the house and away from men and society will cause damage to the people around them and their family.


 * 'I know my place, and I'm at peace'** - Poncia claims to know her place within society and her ranking within Bernarda's family, however, she has interfered with what is going on between Bernarda and her daughters in previous acts, believing herself to have sufficient rights to do so - **'She should have known her place and not led him on.'** **(p.161)** - Poncia again talks about knowing one's place.