Throughout the history of literature, gendered stereotypes are discussed in a variety of different ways. Blood Wedding, a play published in 1933 by Federico Garcia Lorca, uses the interactions between the female and male characters to portray the societal stereotype of the time in which the play was set; specifically, that men were expected to be the provider. While the presentation of this information is subtle and often woven throughout entire conversations, offering up more a portrayal of life than a direct statement thereof, there are still instances wherein such a sentiment are stated in a more forthright manner. In Act I, Scene i, Mother is speaking with her son, Bridegroom. She has lamented about how men are killed and how it is the responsibility of the female to care for their body when they are dead, having no control over whether or not they are killed. She tells her son “…How can I not speak when you go through that door? It’s this…I don’t like you carrying a knife. It’s this.. I wish you wouldn’t go to the fields” (Lorca 6).
In response, Bridegroom offers to take her to the fields with him. Her reply is “What use is an old woman in a vineyard” (Lorca 6). It is shown that the male is responsible, no matter if he is younger, for providing for the household, while the woman is perceived as only responsible for the realm within the household walls. Mother laments this situation, but does not make any effort to change it or go against society’s grain. Again, later on in the same scene, Mother is speaking with Neighbour, lamenting the state of the world. Neighbour says, “Things happen. Two days ago they brought my neighbour’s son home with both his arms mangled by the harvester” (Lorca 9). Neighbour, as a part of the interaction with Mother then states, “And what will he do now? I often think your boy and my boy are better where they are asleep, and at rest, and not being exposed to being made useless” (Lorca 9).
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The implication, once more, is that the male is the provider, and if he is unable to do so, he becomes useless, a burden to his family who must work to try to eek out a living in spite of the lack of a provider. Throughout the play, such conversations and interactions serve to present the means through which the picture of society, and the male and female roles therein, are clearly defined.
- Lorca, Federico Garcia. “Blood Wedding (Bodas De Sangre).” Shiraz.Fars.Pnu.Ac.Ir, 1933, http://shiraz.fars.pnu.ac.ir/Portal/File/ShowFile.aspx?ID=461dfab7-f52d-481b-95e6-e2f85ce092be.
