Tyranny+and+oppression

=TYRANNY AND OPPRESSION=

Tyranny and oppression is an important theme because the playwright himself was suppressed in society as a homosexual. Bernarda's house is also a microcosm of Franco's dictatorship. It is Bernarda who is the tyrant in this play, she restricts the personal freedom of her daughters as she does not allow them to see men. She also arranges the marriages in the family.
 * Act 1**
 * //Introduction://**

//**Quotations:**// p119 stage directions themselves speak about a great shady silence that elipses the stage. Bernarda silences those who she does not agree with. For example (p122) “Less screaming and more work” – In reference to when the maid was acting hysterical at the death of the master of the house; denotes tyrannical behaviour as she does not care for other’s emotions, only expecting them to work and follow orders **(excellent explanation!!)**

p119 “Since she’s not eating, she’d like it if we all starved. Bossy! Tyrant!” – Bernarda forces her ideas onto others. Also shows what Poncia thinks of her. The play starts this way so that the readers have a biased view of Bernarda. p120 “She tyrannizes everyone around her” – Suggests that Bernarda is at the top of the tyrannical order p120 “But I’m a good dog; I bark when I’m told” – The maid referring to herself as being a dog suggests how she is treated by Bernarda. Not even human! Animal imagery and she commands complete obedience. ‘Bernada: Hold that vicious tongue!’ (p129) – Commanding that the maids are not allowed to say anything that insults her husband’s memory
 * RELATIONSHIP TO THE MAIDS**

p119 “The old lady. Is she locked tight?” – Oppression of even her own mother, suggests that there are practically no boundaries to how far and to whom she oppresses, no conscience.
 * RELATIONSHIP WITH MOTHER**

p123 “I have never let anyone lecture me” – Asserting her power and her refusal to bow down to others, maintaining her place as tyrant. pg 136 Bernarda see's herself as the matriarch of the family 'I will make the decisions my own, and yours'
 * BERNARDA'S SELF IMAGE**

p126 “Here you do what I tell you to do” – Imperative. Asserting her power over her Magdalena, oppressing her and forcing her to comply with society’s perception of women.
 * BERNARDA'S RELATIONSHIP WITH HER DAUGHTERS**

She wants everyone in the house to respect her husband’s death by ‘Bernada: [hurling the fan to the floor] is this fan you give to a widow? Give me a black one, and learn to respect your father’s memory.’ (p126) She is forcing everyone in her family to follow her conservative approach to mourning.

‘Bernada: Very well but don’t take the kerchief off your head.’(p127) – She wants her daughters and anyone in the house to conform to a certain dress code. On a larger scale it is also society which dictates what is acceptable for mourning. ‘Bernada: Go? After you’ve taken that powder off your face! Weakling! Hussy! You’re the image of your aunts!’ ‘[Furiously, she removes the powder from Augustias’ face with a handkerchief.]’(p135) – If things aren’t done her way she takes matters into her own hand. The physicality of the action.

MOTIFS
pg 123 third women: 'the sun beats down like lead' / first women ' I have not known it to be this hot in years' The heat adds to the oppressive atmosphere and it seems to stifle characters.
 * HEAT**

pg 128 Bernarda (advancing on her with a cane) 'you weakling' She is punishing Angustias for looking at other men during the funeral and again Bernarda, following the norms of society, is repressing Angustias and trying to control any desires.
 * CANE**

In this scene, Bernarda is portrayed as an extremely oppressive character, whom is feared by her daughters and the maids. However, in this act the audience also questions to what extent Bernarda is responsible for being a tyrannical figure, as the idea of her extremely oppressive behaviour is repeatedly brought up. Is it the society that makes her such a conservative figure? What are societies expectations of women?
 * ACT 2 **
 * Introduction **
 * Quotations **
 * //‘__Bernarda:__ Which of you?//**
 * //[silence]//**
 * //Answer me!//**
 * //[Silence, then to Poncia]//**
 * //Search the rooms! Look in the beds!’ – page 147//**
 * Here Bernarda is portrayed as extremely oppressive.
 * This quote shows that she also does not hesitate to invade her daughters’ privacy.
 * She gives her daughters no space – oppression
 * The awkward silences add to the tension in this scene
 * We see a subtle loss of Bernarda's control through the silences because the daughters are refusing to answer.


 * // ‘__Poncia:__ I don’t want to blame you, but you haven’t allowed your daughters any freedom. Martirio is romantic, no matter what you say. Why didn’t you let her marry Enrique Humanas? Why did you send him a message not to come to her window, the very day he was coming?’ //**
 * Again, we can see Bernarda invading the private life of her daughters by interfering with Martirio and Enrique.
 * We see this through an outsider's perspective i.e. Poncia
 * Bernarda is trying to control the blood line mixing (reference to social classes as well as the idea of eugenetics - genetic filtering. Also refers to Act 3 when Bernarda is talking about breeding her stallion - she is comparing her daughters to horses)
 * // ‘__Bernarda:__ This comes from not keeping you on a shorter leash! But I will haunt your dreams!’ //**
 * Bernarda is an extremely haunting figure - extrememly horrfying to who ever hears that, your dreams are personal therefore she is invading their privacy.
 * Shows that she is prepared to restrict even more freedom, even though she already has them on a ‘short enough leash’ - relates her daughters to animals.
 * // ‘__Bernarda:__ I must use a firm hand with them. Bernarda, rememeber: this is your duty!’ //**
 * Again, this quote shows she is capable of being even more restrictive and intimidating
 * Why is using a firm hand her duty? This suggests that she’s not the one in power. It also suggests that she’s not to blame for her actions, as she’s acting tyrannical to ensure her daughters please society. Thus, we can deduce that society is controlling Bernarda.
 * We see a change in our view of Bernarda from the first act to the second act, we might have some degree of sympathy for her as she mistakenly believes that she needs to uphold the image of her family at any cost. She takes control to an extreme level
 * //__ ‘Bernarda: __//****// I don’t think. There are things we cannot and should not think! I give orders.’ //**
 * ‘I give orders’ makes it sound like the army rather than a household – shows how strict it is
 * The fact that she ‘doesn’t think’ highlights the fact that she is not to blame for being so restrictive – society makes her.
 * That is her dogmatic (orthodox/ stubborn) behaviour.


 * // ‘__Bernarda:__ You have no right except to obey! No one is going to push me or pull me. [To Poncia] And you take care of your own affairs. Here, no one will take one step without my knowing it!’ //**
 * This quote accentuates her tyranny and how closely she monitors those in her house.
 * She will not be reasoned with (inexorable), once her mind is made it cannot be changed.
 * // ‘__Bernarda:__ That’s what you should do: work and keep your mouth shut. It is the obligation of those who are paid to work.’ //**
 * She is oppressive towards the maids as well as her daughters
 * She does not wish to hear Poncia’s opinions – Bernarda will not be reasoned with. She does not stand for any insubordination.
 * ‘It is the obligation of those who are paid to work’ – this highlights Bernarda’s belief that everyone in society should fulfill their role, and should not digress from it.
 * //‘__Bernarda:__ Finish her off before the police get here! Burning coals in the place where she sinned!//**
 * //__Adela:__//** **//[clutching her womb]: No! No!//**
 * //__Bernarda:__//** **//Kill her! Kill her!’//**
 * Here we can observe barbaric forms of oppression.
 * Someone has gone against society and therefore deserves the worst form of punishment.
 * The police are a symbol of law and order in society. The fact that the police are not involved shows us that this society is primitive and corrupted with people taking the law into their own hands.
 * The woman has not really broken the law, she might have violated a moral law.
 * There is no evidence to fully support the idea that Adela is pregnant but it is a transfered pain because she is worried about being in the same situation because of her illicit affair with Pepe.
 * Bernarda is trying to repress sexuality and freedom of choice and this foreshadows Adela's fate.
 * It is a highly dramatic situation punctuated with exclamation marks and the 'kill' is in the imperative form. The short, sharp words reflects the violence of the situation.

=ACT 3=

Quotations
//**
 * // ‘Bernarda: A daughter who disobeys stops being a daughter and becomes an enemy’ – 155
 * No room for tolerance
 * Irony, because the daughters were never truly treated like 'daughters'

//**
 * // ‘Bernarda: The breeding stallion, locked up and kicking the wall. [Loudly] Shackle him and let him out in the corral!’ – 155
 * Relates to how Bernarda treats her daughters - they are essentially 'locked up and kicking the wall' too.
 * The breeding of the horses also relates to the arranged marriage system

Bernarda: At sunrise. Prudencia: You’ve been good at building up your herd.//** **// Bernarda: Thanks to money and a lot of unpleasantness.’ – 155 //**
 * //‘Prudencia: Are you going to breed him with your new mares?
 * Again, this relates to Bernarda arranging her daughters' marriages.
 * She is attempting to control the sexuality of her daughters as well.

//**
 * //‘Bernarda: [to Adela] You may sit down.//**
 * // [Adela sits down]
 * She dictates even the most basic commands, like she's directing a robot.

//**
 * //‘Bernarda: We are through eating now.//**
 * // [They get up from the table]
 * Keyword: 'We'. Bernarda makes up her daughters' minds for them.


 * // ‘Bernarda: You shouldn’t ask him. Especially after you’re married. Speak if he speaks, and look at him when he looks at you.’ – 158 //**
 * Here we get the indication that the daughters will have very limited freedom even when they leave the household.

//**
 * // ‘Bernarda: Don’t try to find out about them. Don’t ask him. And above all, don’t ever let him see you cry.’ - 158
 * Again, we get the indication that the daughers will have very limited freedom when they leave.
 * They won't even be allowed to express their feelings (i.e. hiding tears)

//**
 * // ‘Bernarda: In this house there is no question of ‘yes’ or ‘no’. My vigilance takes care of that.’ – 160
 * Shows how closely she monitors everything + how strict she is

//**
 * // ‘Poncia: Bernarda – I don’t want to talk, because I’m afraid of what you’ll do’
 * Poncia fears Bernarda's wrath, and thus decides not to express herself.
 * Relates to the attitude of the people during the Fascist regime.

//**
 * // ‘Bernarda: Open up! Open up, or I’ll break down the door!’ - 168
 * Here we can observe Bernarda being violent.
 * Also, a closed room door is meant to be symbolise privacy

//** **// ‘Bernarda: Did you hear me? Silence! Silence I said! Silence!’ – 169 //**
 * // ‘Bernarda: The gun! Where is the gun?’ - 167
 * This shows the great extent to which Bernarda is prepared to go to maintain order in her household
 * The gun symbolises the violent nature of the Fascist regime.
 * Here she's trying to ensure the truth about Adela does not leak out.
 * She's using the imperative tone to keep a grip on everyone