Blood Wedding Journal #1

Setting: The setting in Blood Wedding is geographically and historically important to all aspects of the play. From the very first page, the reader sees a link between the time period and the play that has a major impact on the play as a whole. The recognition of the vineyard is key from the start because Lorca uses the earthy aspect to stress the conflict and the climax later on in the play. On the first page, the Bridegroom goes out to his vineyard as well as eat out there. This is an important fragment of the play because it highlights the fact that the Groom can go out and eat off of the land by consuming grapes. This also seems very historically accurate because this is how people operated back in the late 1800s to early 1900s. Living off of the land was not a big deal back in those day and some people depended solely on their output of crops to survive. The setting in the play also hints at being a hindrance to the people because of the climate that is prevalent in Spain. The hill that the Bride lives on is also an important aspect of the play because although it is hard to farm on, it is the "cream of the crop" as far as a place to live. The land is dry and makes life hard on the people who live there by not allowing crops to be produced very easily which relates back to the point about hindrance and how life and well-being are affected through the setting. The hill that is referred to several times is symbolic of well-being and a satisfying life. The life that the Bride has before she is married is pure and spacious. And all of the sudden after she gets married she becomes cramped and confined so much so that she supposedly runs away with Leonardo. The themes that are portrayed through the setting are that a lack of space can change ones outlook on freedom and the living conditions that are set up for you. As well as a lack of any or some of the basic needs in life can create an unbalanced and unhealthy person or relationship.