Tragedy Journal 9 (Blood Wedding Act 1)

Discussion on Literary Topics: Since I noticed that Federico Garcia Lorca emphasizes women's roles in society through marriage in his play Blood Wedding, I thought I should analyze how he shows their roles...

In Blood Wedding by Federico Garcia Lorca, the first scene opens with a mother and her son who is planning to marry. The mother expresses a feeling of hopelessness through the symbol of knives, "If I lived a hundred years, I would talk of nothing else! First, your father. To me he smelled like carnations, and I enjoyed him only three short years. Then your brother. Is it fair? How can it be that something as small as a pistol or a knife can destroy a man who is like a bull? I'll never be quiet. The months go by, and the desperation stings my eyes and the very tips of my hair!" (Lorca 1.1). The woman role in Lorca's tragedy is one of subservience but still based on family hierarchies. One can see this through the influence of the bridegroom's mother and the contrasting influence of the bride:

MOTHER. You better hoe the vines over by the little mill. You've been
neglecting them.

BRIDEGROOM. Whatever you say. (Lorca 1.1)

Because of the mother's high hierarchical status as the remaining parent of the family, she still takes precedence over some decisions that her son makes. This can be easily contrasted to the future bride:

(The BRIDE enters, her hands modestly at her sides, her head
lowered) [...]

MOTHER. No... Just that you all live. Just that! Live!

BRIDE. I will know my duty. (Lorca 1.2)

The detailed stage directions help the reader understand the subservient role of women being portrayed by Lorca. This role is demonstrated in front of a "public" audience i.e. the bride's father and mother-in-law. The bride's real emotions are revealed when only she and the maid are on stage:

MAID. For heaven's sake! All right. you're acting like you don't want to get
married.

BRIDE. (Biting her hand in rage) Oh!

MAID.
Child! My dear! What's the matter with you? Are you sorry you're giving up the
life of a queen? (Lorca 1.2)

This hidden rebelliousness against the society's views gives the impression that Lorca is attempting to show how societal standards are inevitably surpassed especially considering the roles of women. Having that freedom of not being married is one that the Maid describes as the "life of a queen" (Lorca 1.2).