Bernarda Alba Act II Flashcards

Who is there at the beginning of Act II? What are they doing?

Las hijas de Bernarda están sentadas en sillas bajas, cosiendo. Magdalena borda. Con ellas está la Poncia.

What joke does Magdalena make when she embroiders the sheets?

She says "Angustias, ¿pongo también las iniciales de Pepe?”

Who says “La encuentro sin sosiego (restless), temblona, asustada (frightened), como si

tuviera una lagartija entre los pechos. (lizard in her chest).” And who is she talking about.

Poncia while talking about Adela.

What is Martirio’s reaction to Adela’s sickness? What is Magdalena’s?

She says "No tiene ni más ni menos que lo que tenemos todas. / She’s got nothing more than what we all have”

Magdalena “Todas, menos Angustias." / all except Angustias”

AKA they’re all repressed other than Angustias (turns out to be false!)

What does Angustias say when the girls tease her in Act II?

“Afortunadamente pronto voy a salir de este infierno. (escape this hell)”

What does Magdalena ironically (?) say are Angustias’s best characteristics?

“el talle y la delicadeza. (her figure and her sensitivity)"

Who says “ ¡mas vale onza en el arca (chest) que ojos negros en la cara!”

Angustias (Spanish saying that means its better to be financially secure than beautiful)

In the beginning of Act II, how does Magdalena describe the weather the night before?

It was hot and “Había un nublo negro de tormenta (blackstorm cloud) y hasta

cayeron algunas gotas (raindrops)”

Represents the trouble brewing in the household

When does Poncia say say she saw Pepe with Angustias and when does she say she saw him leave?

When does Amelia say she heard pepe leaving

1:00 AM

4:00 AM

Amelia: 1:30 (Afterward she agrees with Poncia though)

Who says “Verdaderamente es raro que dos personas que no se conocen se vean de

pronto en una reja (window) y ya novios.”

Martirio

What does Angustias say Pepe said to her?

“Ya sabes que ando detrás de ti (I’m going after you), necesito una mujer buena,

modosa, y ésa eres tú, si me das la conformidad.""

What is Angustias’s view of men seeing women though windows?

“No, porque cuando un hombre se acerca a una reja (window) ya sabe por los que van y

vienen, llevan y traen (knows from coming from going), que se le va a decir que sí (you’re going to say yes).”

In other words she sees it as a legitimation of her engagement with Pepe.

What did Angustias say to Pepe that night?

“Yo no hubiera podido (decir nada). Casi se me salía el corazón por la boca. Era la

primera vez que estaba sola de noche con un hombre”

What is the name of Poncia’s husband?

Evaristo el Colorín

What does Poncia say her first time meeting her husband was like.

They were silent for half an hour. She was really nervous, but Evaristo came closer and closer until he said "¡Ven que te tiente!"

What did Poncia’s husband like to do? What happened that stopped him from that?

le dio por criar colorines (raise finches)

hasta que murió.

What does Poncia say about men after marriage?

de todos modos que el hombre a los quince días de boda deja la cama por la mesa, y luego la mesa por la tabernilla. Y la (mujer) que no se conforma (accept that) se pudre llorando en un rincón (waste away, crying in a corner).

What did Poncia do to her husband?

She hit him and killed all his finches.

Who says “La envidia la come. / Se lo noto en los ojos. Se le está poniendo mirar de loca.”

Angustias

What is Adela’s reaction when Martirio asks her how she is doing?

She says: “¡Déjame ya! ¡Durmiendo o velando, no tienes por qué meterte en lo

mío! ¡Yo hago con mi cuerpo lo que me parece!” (very incriminating, no?)

Who wants to be invisible and why?

Adela says she wants to be invisible to avoid her sisters’ gazes.

What does Adela say to Poncia in act II?

“Me sigue a todos lados. A veces se asoma a mi cuarto para ver si duermo / ¡Y eso no! Mi cuerpo será de quien yo quiera!”

Who is the first person to figure out about Adela’s affair?

Poncia. She says “Las viejas vemos a través de las paredes. / Old women can see through walls”

What does Poncia tell Adela to do if she wants Pepe el Romano? What does she say about God?

Wait until she dies in childbirth.

Poncia: Lo que quieras, pero no vayas contra la ley de Dios.

What does Adela accuse Poncia of? How does Poncia respond?

Adela: buscas como una vieja marrana (Old sow) asuntos de hombres y mujeres para babosear en ellos

Poncia:  Para que las gentes no escupan (spit) al pasar por esta puerta./ “I want to live in a decent house”

What animal does Adela compare herself to?

 ¡Soy más lista (clever) que tú! Mira a ver si puedes agarrar la liebre (catch this hare) con tus

manos.

What does Poncia threaten to do to Adela

 ¡Adela, no me desafíes! Porque yo puedo dar voces, encender luces y hacer que toquen las campanas (make the bells ring)

How does Adela describe gazing at Pepe el Romano

Mirando sus ojos me parece que bebo su sangre lentamente (slowly drinking his bloof)

What does Poncia change the subject to when Angustias comes in during their

Poncia says that Adela "con el calor que hace, vaya a traerle no sé qué

cosa de la tienda.”

What is the last thing Adela says in her argument with Poncia?

! Te he tenido miedo. ¡Pero ya soy más fuerte que tú!

What does Poncia ask before leaving from Adela and Poncia

“¿Me compraste el bote de esencia?”

represents her delight in femininity and wish to get married.

What thing of Martirio’s does Adela make fun of? How does Martrio resspond?

The lace to make a petticoat for herself.

Martirio: Para verlos yo (for me to see). No necesito lucirme (show off) ante nadie. / Es uno de los pocos gustos (pleasures) que me quedan.

How to the girls respond when Poncia says that one day they’ll be sewing Angustias’ clothes

Magdalena says “Yo no pienso dar una puntada.” and the other girls complain.

What sound lets the girls know that the men are going back to work?

The bells ringing

Where does Adela want to be when the men are working? What does Magdalena say in response?

Adela: Ay, quién pudiera salir también a los campos (also leave to the fields)!

Magdalena: ¡Cada clase tiene que hacer lo suyo!

Pressure to act their class and uphold their reputation keeps them repressed.

What does Poncia say she saw happen in the fields?

Anoche llegó al pueblo una mujer vestida de lentejuelas (sequins) y que bailaba con un acordeón, y quince de ellos la contrataron para levársela al olivar. 

Represents how poor women are sexually exploited in broad daylight, whereas rich women are under the guises of “marriage” and “reputation”

What did Poncia do when a prostitute came years ago?

yo misma di dinero a mi hijo mayor para que fuera. Los hombres necesitan estas cosas.

What do Adela, Amelia, and Magdalena say about being a woman?

Adela: Se les perdona todo.

Amelia: Nacer mujer es el mayor castigo.

Magdalena: Y ni nuestros ojos siquiera nos pertenecen. (not even our eyes belong to us)

What is the song that the men sing in the fields about?

The “segadores” going and working while girls watch. The second (more sinister) chorus tells the girls in the village to “Abrir puertas y ventanas” and that the reaper asks for their roses to “adornar su sombrero.”

Represents how men and marriage are very alluring to women, but in the end women are harvested (cosechadas/segadas) like crops (el cosecho and thrown away.)

What kinds of instruments play when the reapers sing?

panderos y carrañacas (traditional instruments)

Why does Adela say she wants to be a reaper?

para olvidarse “lo que nos muerde. (bites us)

Whose window do they use to watch the segadores?

Adela’s

What month does Martirio wish it was? How does she describe the summer.

Noviembre. She says she hates the “verano interminable”

What does Poncia warn then before they go and watch the men?

Not to open the window too wide so that they see them.

What do Martirio and Amelia talk about alone?

Martirio heard someone in la corral late at night.

What double entendre does Martirio make but Amelia says innocently?

¡Eso, eso!, una mulilla sin desbravar (a young mule that means taming)

What does Martirio do before Adela leaves?

She says not to tell anyone about the sounds she heard that night. She is about to tell Amelia something but says it was actually nothing.

What does Amelia jokingly say the picture of Pepe is not when Angustias starts making accusations

Ni que Pepe fuera un San Bartolomé de plata. (silver saint bartholomew) foreshadowing.

What does Martirio jokingly say might have happened to the retrato of Pepe?

Y no se habrá escapado a medianoche al corral (stable)? A Pepe le gusta andar con

la luna. (she knows Adela and Pepe were there)

Who does Poncia look at when she hears about the missing portrait?

Looks at Adela

Who says “¿Qué escándalo es éste en mi casa y con el

silencio del peso (weight) del calor? Estarán las vecinas con el oído pegado a los tabiques (glued to the walls).

Bernarda

What does it mean when Bernarda says “ Esto tiene no ataros más cortas”

“This is what happens when I don’t have you on shorter leashes“

What does Bernarda say when she hears the portrait has been stolen?

Me hacéis al final de mi vida beber el veneno más amargo (you make be drink the bitterest venom) que una madre puede resistir. (resist)

Where was the portrait all along?

“Entre las sábanas de la cama de Martirio.”

What does Bernarda call Martirio when she finds out about the portrait and beats her.

mosca muerta (dead bug) / ¡Sembradura de vidrios (sower of discord)!

What does Adela say when Martirio claims stealing the portrait was a joke? How does Martirio threaten her in response?

“No ha sido broma, que tú no has gustado nunca de juegos.“

“se van a juntar las paredes unas con otras de vergüenza!”

How do Adela and Martirio respond when Angustias says “Yo no tengo la culpa de que Pepe el Romano se haya fijado en mí.”

Adela: ¡Por tus dineros!

Martirio: Por tus marjales (fields) y tus arboledas (orchards)

Who says “Yo veía la tormenta venir, pero no creía que estallara tan pronto. ¡Ay, qué pedrisco de odio habéis echado sobre mi corazón! “

Bernarda after the argument about el retrato.

What does Bernarda threaten her 5 daughters with? What does she say she has in life?

tengo cinco cadenas para vosotras y esta casa levantada por mi padre para que ni las hierbas se enteren de mi desolación.

What corny thing does Bernarda say to herself?

¡Tendré que sentarles la mano! (take a firm grip) Bernarda, ¡acuérdate que ésta es tu obligación!

When does Bernarda say when Poncia begins to warn her? How does Poncia respond?

Bernarda: Te conozco demasiado para saber que ya me tienes preparada la cuchilla.

La Poncia: Nunca pensé que se llamara asesinato al aviso.

What does Poncia tell Bernarda to do?

abre los ojos y verás

represents how Bernarda refuses the accept the truth and instead closes her eyes to what is really happening in the house.

True or False: Poncia says Bernarda is slow and unaware, which is why she is not able to see what is happening in her household."

FALSE: Siempre has sido lista. Pero los hijos son los hijos. Ahora estás ciega.

How does Poncia respond when Bernarda says “Ya empiezas a sacar la punta del cuchillo.”

She asks her why she didn’t let Martirio marry Enrique Humanas, and send him a note not to come.

Why didn’t Bernarda want Martirio to marry Enrique Humanes?

His father was a farmer (gañan)

What does Bernarda say would happen “if something happened” in the household?

no traspasaría las paredes. (reputation matters most)

What about Poncia does Bernarda insult?

She says her mother fit in in a brothel (lupanar)

What does Poncia say to try and convince Bernarda to let Pepe marry Adela.

That it is against Nature and everyone knows it is wrong that Pepe is not with Adela.

WHo says “¡Ya estamos otra vez!... Te deslizas para llenarme de malos sueños. Y no

quiero entenderte, porque si llegara al alcance (understand) de todo lo que dices te tendría que arañar (to scratch you)”

Bernarda to Poncia

Label names:

_______: ¡Afortunadamente mis hijas me respetan y jamás torcieron mi voluntad!

_______: ¡Eso sí! Pero en cuanto las dejes sueltas se te subirán al tejado.

_______: ¡Ya las bajaré tirándoles cantos!

_______: ¡Desde luego eres la más valiente!

Bernarda, Poncia, Bernarda, Poncia

What does Poncia call Bernarda? What does Bernarda call herself?

más valiente / gasté sabrosa pimienta

What does Poncia’s son tell her?

That the day earlier Pepe was at the house till 4:30 AM, even though Angustias says he leaves at 1:00 AM. Martirio and Amelia also heard him.

Where does Martirio hear Pepe? Where does Angustias say she spoke to him?

la ventana del callejón

ventana de mi dormitorio.

What does Bernarda say about the Pepe timing situation?

Si las gentes del pueblo quieren levantar falsos testimonios se encontrarán con mi pedernal (heartstone). No se hable de este asunto. Hay a veces una ola de fango (mud) que levantan los demás para perdernos (destroy us).

Who says “Nací para tener los ojos abiertos. Ahora vigilaré sin cerrarlos ya hasta que me muera.”

Bernarda

Where does Bernarda order the girls when la criada comes and tells them about the crowd (la multitud)

al patio

What do Adela and Martirio talk about before news comes about the Librada?

They argue about who can get Pepe el Romano. Adela brags about being first to have him, and Martirio threatenes to tell her secret. She says “Yo romperé tus abrazos.”

What does Bernarda say to do to La Librada?

¡Acabar con ella antes que lleguen los guardias! ¡Carbón ardiendo (burning) en el sitio de su pecado (sin)!