Structural Forces of Themes: A Comparative Analysis of Federico Garcia Lorca's Selected Plays
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Abstract
This study explores the role of structural forces in shaping the themes of honor, virtue and tragic fate in Federico Garcia Lorca's selected plays: Bodas de Sangre "Blood Wedding" (2014) and La Casa de Bernarda Alb "The House of Bernarda Alba" (1999).
Utilizing structuralism, the analysis investigates how the societal expectations, familial constraints, and rigid social roles are inherent in both plays, which drive the characters' actions and lead to their inevitable downfall. This study argues that these forces impose a set of values, honor and virtue which limit individual desires, particularly for the women, forcing them to sacrifice personal fulfillment in favor of preserving family reputation and adhering to social norms. Furthermore, the concept of tragic fate is examined as an inescapable consequence of these structural constrains, with the characters unable to escape their predetermined roles within the family and society. Through examining Lorca's use of structural elements, the study reveals how they underscore the themes of fatalism, highlighting the connection between societal oppression and personal destiny. Finally, this study compares how both of the selected plays present the themes of honor, virtue and tragic fate as inextricably linked to the structural forces that govern the characters' lives and contribute to their tragic endings. This study concludes that the social rules and family duties control on what the characters do, and causing their tragic endings. Also, these rules limit personal wishes, especially for female, and forcing them to give up their happiness to protect family honor and values.
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