Group 2:

Use of poetry (symbols and imagery) in the play "Blood Wedding"

Introduction :

Lorca was deeply interested in folk music and rhymes, and many different songs and poems appear in
Blood Wedding. They establish the traditional culture in which the characters live and die, but the
changing style of the lyrics as the play progresses foreshadows its bloody conclusion. The lyrics are
initially flowery and traditional, referring to animals and flowers rather than human beings. As the acts
progress, though, the lyrics refer more directly to the events in the play, and become sharper and more
gruesome, reflecting the characters' fear and grief.Federico García Lorca's "Blood Wedding" is a
powerful tragedy infused with symbolism and imagery that enriches the play's exploration of love,
passion, fate, and societal constraints. Here are some key symbols and their uses. In "Blood Wedding"
by Federico García Lorca, imagery plays a crucial role in enhancing the emotional impact and thematic
depth of the play.

Symbols and imagery

1_ the knife:

Knife is the instrument of violence and death, representing the destructive potential of unchecked
passion and societal pressures. The knives foreshadow the bloodshed and highlight the precariousness
of life. Because the Bridegroom’s mother speaks extensively about the danger of knives and anything
“that can cut a man,” the audience naturally comes to associate them with unnecessary violence. This
is especially true because of the way the old woman talks about knives, urging her son—and, really,
anybody who will listen—to recognize how ridiculous and sad it is that a person can kill somebody with
such a small instrument. “Is it fair?” she asks. “Is it possible that a thing as small as a pistol or a knife
can put an end to a man who’s a bull?” By asking this question, the Bridegroom’s mother urges the
audience to consider the tragic fact that humans are so violent that they find ways to end each other’s
lives with even the smallest tools. Interestingly enough, though, a knife never actually appears in any of
the play’s most significant scenes, thereby becoming nothing more than an ominous presence that
hovers throughout the narrative. In turn, García Lorca uses the mere idea of knives to symbolize not only
humanity’s inherently violent nature, but also the ever-present sense of fear that accompanies this
kind of aggression.Overall, the imagery of the knife in "Blood Wedding" adds a sense of tension, danger,
and impending doom to the play. It serves as a powerful imagery representing violence, fate, and the
destructive consequences of human desires.

2_The Moon:

A haunting presence, embodying fate, desire, and the uncontrollable forces that drive human actions.
The Moon's cold, watchful gaze symbolizes the inevitability of tragedy and the characters'
powerlessness against destiny. Image of Blood Wedding play scene with moon. The Moon: This celestial
body embodies a multifaceted symbolism. The moon's cold, watchful gaze seems to mock the
characters' struggles, reminding them of their limited control over fate and the inevitability of death.
The moon shines indifferently on the unfolding tragedy, highlighting the vastness of nature and its
unconcern with human emotions. Just as the moon pulls the tides, it can be seen as influencing the
characters' passionate urges, fueling their impulsive choices.The moon in the play is a symbol that helps
develop the plot of the play. A moon usually symbolizes romance or a peaceful setting, but ironically the
moon in the play does not, it symbolizes the fate of Leonardo’s, and the Bridegroom’s death, ending
in bloodshed. “And so tonight my cheeks Will fill with crimson blood, Allow no shade, no shadow –
They will not get away!” (Lorca, 82) The word “will” in the quote it shows that something is certainly
and definitely going happen to them. This means Leonardo , and the Bridegroom fate is sealed; they will
die. “Two men at the feet of the horse / Dead in the splendor of the night.”(Lorca, 98) What this
quotes says is that two men has died in the “splendor of the night,” the moonlight. The moon also
gives off moonlight, which is a shadow from the sun. This helps add more symbolism of fate from the
symbol, the moon. Lorca often uses moon imagery to represent the pull of destiny and the cyclical
nature of life and death. The moon becomes a silent witness to the characters' struggles and adds a
poetic layer to the play, connecting the earthly events to larger cosmic forces.

3_ the Blood:

The play's title itself is potent. Blood can hold several interpretations. Traditionally, blood symbolizes a
shared bond, like the one the Bridegroom and Bride hope to forge through marriage. However, this
unity turns tragic, foreshadowing the violent deaths that stain the play. The play's passionate love
triangle underscores the fiery, uncontrollable nature of passion, represented by the image of blood
coursing through veins. Blood becomes a gruesome reminder of the play's violence, staining the stage
and symbolizing the tragic consequences of unrequited love and societal pressures. Blood reflects the
violent outpouring of the human spirit in Blood Wedding, as well as passions which unsettle the human
heart. Blood stands for family and becomes a torment: The Mother’s fear for her own blood, her son,
is constantly on her mind. Blood stands for unification: The Bridegroom and the Bride, through their
marriage, unite their blood. Instead of representing passion, blood symbolizes death, the violence that
sweeps across the Andalusian countryside. Leonardo is characterized by blood. His familial identity
precludes the Mother from sympathizing with him. The Bride’s Father agrees that his “blood’s no
good". The Woodcutters recognize that Leonardo and the Bride, ruled by their passion, have little
control over their fates: “When the blood chooses a path it must be followed”. The way Leonardo
wears down his horse and destroys the wedding is attributed to his hot-bloodedness and inability to
practice self-control. Blood stands for repressed desire, its power and ability to upend carefully
cultivated human society.The recurring imagery of blood symbolizes deep-rooted family ties, societal
expectations, and the inevitable consequences of violence. It foreshadows the tragic events that unfold,
emphasizing the inescapable ties that bind characters to their fate.

4_the Orange blossoms:

The wreath of orange blossoms that the Bridegroom gives to the Bride on their wedding day signifies
their community’s lavish and materialistic beliefs about marriage. Proud of the impressive wreath he
has presented to his future wife, the Bridegroom boasts to her about the fact that it will last forever
because it’s made of wax, a sentiment that illustrates his investment in material items, as he takes
pride in the idea that she can truly possess these flowers. This impulse toward ownership and external
beauty is exactly what keeps him and everybody else from recognizing that the Bride wants more out of
a relationship than beautiful objects and worldly possessions. Of course, the only person who does
understand this is Leonardo, who comments that a smaller wreath would “suit” the Bride better. By
saying this, he demonstrates his ability to pinpoint what the Bride actually likes and wants. Because the
orange-blossom wreath becomes the focal point of this discrepancy, then, it comes to stand for the vast
disconnect between the Bride’s desire for true love and her community’s fixation on marriage as a
transaction of tantalizing but altogether emotionally insignificant benefits. Overall, the imagery of
orange blossoms in "Blood Wedding" represents the delicate balance between dreams and reality, and
the fleeting nature of happiness. It adds a layer of beauty and symbolism to the play's themes.

5-the Colours :

The colors of the Bridegroom’s, Leonardo’s, and the Bride’s house are symbols that help develop
the plot of the play. In act 1, scene 1 of the play, the color of the Bridegroom’s and his mother’s
kitchen is painted yellow. Yellow is the color of gold and wheat, which is a symbol of wealth, and in the
Bridegroom’s household they are a very wealthy. Yellow is also the color of vigor and life, which is
ironic because the Bridegroom’s father, that was a household member, has previously died because he
was murdered. It is also ironic because the Bridegroom will also die later on in the play. In act 1, scene 2
of the play, the color of a room in Leonardo’s house is pink. Pink is the color of love, which is a symbol
of Leonardo’s love; ironically not love for his own wife, but for the Bride. Pink is also the color of a
calm environment, but again it is ironic because it is nowhere near calm where ever Leonardo is present
within the play. In act 1, scene 3 of the play, the color of the Bride ’s cave-house has a hard white
material use for walls. White is the color of purity, which is a symbol that the Bride is pure, a virgin.
White is also the color for something that is plain, which the Bride is very, because she lacks emotions
towards the Bridegroom. Since the Bride shows little to no emotion towards the Bridegroom, the
Bridegroom’s clinginess is emphasis. In act 3, scene 2 of the play, the color of the two girls clothing is
dark blue. Dark blue is the color of the men’s dominance over the women in society. The two girls that
are wearing dark blue clothing is the symbol of the deaths of the men. Since the men are dead the
woman now have to take over their roles in society. The color dark blue also evokes the emotion,
sadness. Each family lost a household member, this is their time to be mournful and to be sad for their
losses. Not only does these things that are mentioned above help develop the plot, but also it helps one
to understand the play much more clearly.

6_the Horse:

The horse in "Blood Wedding" is a powerful and multifaceted symbol, often associated with Leonardo,
passion, freedom, and ultimately, tragedy.Act II, Scene I: "He came here on a horse... He smelled of
horse and stables." - The Bride comments on Leonardo's arrival, highlighting the animalistic and
passionate aura he carries, symbolized by the horse. The purpose of the horse seems quite
unambiguous to begin with, although with analysis it seems that the horse acts as a guide, '...far-away
and solitary/Black pony, full moon", where Lorca suggests the horse is a representative of the male
persona. There is also an obvious link between the Horse and Rider in the poem, and, the Horse and
Leonardo in Blood Wedding. Therefore it could be suggested that both horse and man are solitary and
yet mutually dependent. From one point of view, Leonardo would not have been able to see his true
love and quench his thirst for the Bride without the Horse as his means of transport. Without the
involvement of such a spirited horse to convey him to the harsh realms of the Bride’s home in the
tragedy of Leonardo's struggle, it is possible that he would eventually settle down with his wife.

7_ the Forest:

After the bride and Leonardo leave with each other, they escape to the forest. What this symbolizes is
the departure from societies norms and expectations. Nature is beyond man's reach and influence and
cannot carry with it any pressure towards people to act any certain ways. Leaving their families for each
other is something that would not be acceptable in their time and would go against the structure of life
that was set up in Spain at this point, but by fleeing to the forest, they are ridding themselves of that
burden burdens that came with societies rules..

8_ the Begger woman:

An old woman dressed in rags who appears in the forest when Leonardo and the Bride elope. In his
stage note, Lorca writes that the “beggar woman” is death itself. Unsurprisingly, then, she eagerly
awaits Leonardo and the Bridegroom’s deaths, predicting that blood will be spilled in a nearby stream,
which she says Leonardo and the Bride will not be able to cross. After her prediction comes true and
Leonardo and the Bridegroom kill each other, the beggar woman visits the Bridegroom’s house and
tells the three little girls waiting there what has happened.Death, disguised as an old beggar woman,
enters and speaks of the finiteness of life and how the night will end in death. She orders The Moon to
provide much light before exiting. In the play, the beggar woman is often associated with the character
of Death. She is seen as a haunting presence, foretelling tragedy and representing the inescapable
consequences of the characters' actions. Her presence serves as a reminder that no one can escape their
fate, no matter how hard they try. The beggar woman's appearance and actions also reflect the themes
of poverty and desperation. She is portrayed as a marginalized figure, living on the fringes of society. Her
tattered clothing and her constant begging highlight the harsh realities faced by those who are
economically disadvantaged. One important reference to the beggar woman in the play is when she
offers the character of Leonardo a crown made of thorns. This gesture symbolizes the suffering and
sacrifice that the characters will endure as a result of their choices. It foreshadows the tragic events that
unfold later in the play.

Conclusion :

Symbolism is the prominent manifestation of modernism, appeared as a poetical deviation from

romanticism. Symbolism, a loosely organized literary and artistic movement that originated with a group
of French poets in the late 19th century, spread to painting and the theatre, and influenced the
European and American literatures of the 20th century to varying degrees. Imagism was a sub-genre of
Modernism concerned with creating clear imagery with sharp language. The essential idea was to re-
create the physical experience of an object through words. As with all of Modernism, Imagism implicitly
rejected Victorian poetry, which tended toward narrative. The play is rich in symbolic elements. The
moon, the horse, and the knife represent deeper thematic ideas and societal conflicts. These symbols
transcend their literal meanings, reflecting the complexities of human emotions and societal constraints
—a hallmark of modernist literature5.