Los simbolos de la muerte en ‘La casa de Bernarda Alba’ de Federico García Lorca y ‘Escuadra hacia la muerte’ de Alfonso Sastre : trabajo comparativo

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to find out the differences, as well as the similarities, between the symbols of death in two major theatrical works both of which are important to understand the Spanish theatre in the twentieth century: ‘La Casa de Bernarda Alba’ (1936) and ‘Escuadra hacia la muerte’ (1953). The first chapter starts by listing some of the theatrical characteristics of the Generation of the '27. It continues with a short biographic summary of Federico Garcia Lorca, one of the main playwrights of this group. Following this, the chapter concludes with a discussion about the symbols of death found in his last work, La Casa de Bernarda Alba, a play written during the same year of his death. In the second chapter, characteristics from the subsequent generation, that is Generation of the '36 will be described. Similarly, a summary of the biography of Alfonso Sastre, the dramatist that went against many of the censorship rules will be given. Furthermore, the symbols of death found in one of his most important works: ‘Escuadra hacia la muerte’ will be analysed. The final chapter is dedicated to the similarities and differences in the symbols of death found between these two plays. The main aim is to find out how these symbols changed due to the war and the strict censorship rules that were imposed by the new dictator Francisco Franco.