Bernarda is the tyrannical matriarch of the family and 60 years old. She is insistent on keeping her daughters in line and is prepared to use violence and threats to do so.
From the outside, Bernarda seems intimidating. She always wears black, has a stick to hold, and she wears her gray hair in a tight hairstyle. With this tough exterior, Bernarda's fundamental tyranny is no suprise. It is also not suprising that most of the women in the House are frightened of her.
These unfortunate features of her personality come from a deeper place. This is simply her dealing with years and years of patriarchal oppression. She has been living in a corrupt society with the infamous leader 'Franco' in charge for so long that she inflicts (without knowing) all of this pain and suffering to their daughters.
She says "needle and thread. for women Whiplash and mules for men. (Act i. p. 165) This quote exemplifies her vision of society. It is a dangerous view, but it is the only view that knows. Perhaps Lorca wants that audience to feel sorry for Bernarda, because although she is the main influence of represion in the play, she is also the person who has had to deal with patriarchal values for the longest. …show more content…
It is peculiar because La Poncia and Bernarda have known each other for 30 years, thus, in the eyes of La Poncia, they are more than acquaintances. Evidentally, when Bernarda completely dismisses La Poncia's friendly advance, it is clear that she has the habit of turning off her emotions. She has been oppressed for so long that it has eventually turned her emotionally numb. Any time she receives compassion she is afraid to accept it as she has been so hurt in the past. Lorca explains through Bernarda that perhaps the majority of this 1930's society were so incredibly hurt by their own experiences that they were completely insensitive to any positive compassion and
From the outside, Bernarda seems intimidating. She always wears black, has a stick to hold, and she wears her gray hair in a tight hairstyle. With this tough exterior, Bernarda's fundamental tyranny is no suprise. It is also not suprising that most of the women in the House are frightened of her.
These unfortunate features of her personality come from a deeper place. This is simply her dealing with years and years of patriarchal oppression. She has been living in a corrupt society with the infamous leader 'Franco' in charge for so long that she inflicts (without knowing) all of this pain and suffering to their daughters.
She says "needle and thread. for women Whiplash and mules for men. (Act i. p. 165) This quote exemplifies her vision of society. It is a dangerous view, but it is the only view that knows. Perhaps Lorca wants that audience to feel sorry for Bernarda, because although she is the main influence of represion in the play, she is also the person who has had to deal with patriarchal values for the longest. …show more content…
It is peculiar because La Poncia and Bernarda have known each other for 30 years, thus, in the eyes of La Poncia, they are more than acquaintances. Evidentally, when Bernarda completely dismisses La Poncia's friendly advance, it is clear that she has the habit of turning off her emotions. She has been oppressed for so long that it has eventually turned her emotionally numb. Any time she receives compassion she is afraid to accept it as she has been so hurt in the past. Lorca explains through Bernarda that perhaps the majority of this 1930's society were so incredibly hurt by their own experiences that they were completely insensitive to any positive compassion and