Lorca: Four Final Plays

Lorca, Federico Garcia (1898–1936), translated by Kline, A. S. (contact-email)

This work comprises new translations of Lorca’s final, major plays - Blood Wedding, Yerma, The House of Bernarda Alba and Doña Rosita the Spinster and the Language of Flowers. Federico García Lorca’s theatrical works, notably these last four plays of the 1930s, are prominent for their support of the ‘theatre of social action’. He utilised straightforward, yet evocative language and dynamic emotional scenes to reflect the oppressive existence of rural Spaniards. Lorca viewed theatre as a platform for challenging outmoded social doctrines and exploring universal human emotions. While exploring the stifling aspects of contemporary life for both the rural poor and the isolated individual, his plays also challenged the conventional roles of women in society, and allowed him to express, indirectly, his frustrations with attitudes to sexuality and homo-eroticism which affected him personally, and may have contributed to his subsequent persecution within Spain and his death.

Author Details

Federico García Lorca, born on 5 June 1898 in Fuente Vaqueros near Granada, Spain, was a renowned Spanish poet, playwright, and theatre director. He emerged as a leading member of the Generation of ‘27, a group of poets who introduced elements of European artistic and literary movements including symbolism, futurism, and surrealism into Spanish literature.

García Lorca first gained prominence with “Romancero gitano” (Gypsy Ballads, 1928), a collection of poems blending traditional Andalusian themes with avant-garde styles. His stay in New York City from 1929 to 1930 significantly influenced his subsequent works. Upon returning to Spain, he wrote his acclaimed plays “Blood Wedding” (1932), “Yerma” (1934), and “The House of Bernarda Alba” (1936).

As a homosexual García Lorca did not openly acknowledge his sexuality during his lifetime due to the prevailing social norms. He had a troubled relationship with sculptor Emilio Aladrén Perojo, and a close emotional bond with artist Salvador Dalí.

He was assassinated by Nationalist forces at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War, in 1936. His death remains a subject of controversy, with various theories suggesting he was targeted for his political beliefs, sexual orientation, or personal disputes.

García Lorca’s literary work, characterized by a deep exploration of human emotional and social issues, left a permanent legacy, and profoundly influenced 20th-century Spanish literature and theatre.

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Kline, A. S.

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