Animal+Imagery

**ANIMAL IMAGERY**
Bernarda treats her servants like dogs- she expects them to be faithful to her. Poncia compares herself to a dog and she accepts that she is of lower class. This shows her obidience and loyalty as she metaphorically kept on a leash.
 * 'I’m a good dog...but someday I’ll be sick of it'** (p.120)– Bernarda keeps her servants on a leash.

Adela: **'Instead of cleaning the house...you go sticking your nose into the affairs of men and women like an old sow, so you can slobber over them'** (p142).
 * 'a meek little dog to cook for them'**

Bernarda: **'Soft and slippery- making sheeps eyes at any little barber who flattered them!'** (p.129) This conveys that Bernarda Alba feels that Angustias is adapting animal like features such as that of a sheep, the fluffy white coat,symbolising her trying to look beautiful and impressive for the men.

Magdalena: **'You always have your heads together like two little sheep,'** (p.132) The sheep here symbolises teh little herd mentality of Amelia and Angustias.

Adela uses animal imagery as she refers to herself as a **'wild rabbit'** (p.142) to symbolise her quick and promiscuous and illusive nature.

**'They all drag the old woman off stage'** - shows how they use to treat people like animal and just do what ever with them. also show that they dont care about people much.

Bernada: **'This comes from not keeping you on a shorter leash!'** (pg 147) Bernada is yet again asserting her power over the daughters and using assertive animal imagery to refer them to dogs as the use of **'a shorter leash'** illustrates how Bernada feels as if she has given the daughters too much freedom.

Martirio: **'Where did you get that lamb?'** (pg 164) this illustrates how the animal imagery of a 'lamb' is referanced to a child as it has connotations of innocence, white & purity. However, the audience sees at first glance that the lamb is being metaphorically referanced as a child, when in actual fact it is a lamb as Maria Josefa is too frail to have a baby.

Maria Josefa: **'frogs without tongues**!**'** (p.164) It shows sickening connotations, she is disgusted by the actions and behaviour of the people within the house. Its a direct stab at Bernarda Alba's dictatorship & tyranny.

Maria Josefa: **'Bernarda, face of a leopard, Magdalena, face of a hayena.'** (p.164) Associating them with Animal faces. It may act as a disguise, Appearance vs Reality. --> Being something they are not.


 * //'A whistle is head.// ADELA //runs towards the door, but// MARTIRIO //blocks it'//** (p.166)- Dog imagery- The **'whistle'** has animalistic connotations and reflects the power that Pedro posesses, especially due to the fact that he is not present, yet still controls ADELA. This is emphasized by her direct obedience with **//'//ADELA //runs towards the door'.//**

QUOTATION>~??? When Pepe whistles signaling for Adela to come to him. Animal imagery because it resembles as a master is whistling for his dog to come to him. This highlights the theme of male dominance,power and control ,despite their physical absense in the play.