Pepe el Romano- “La Casa de Bernarda Alba”- Lorca
Pepe’s Presence in The Play
● Pepe is one of three men quoted in the play, but he never appears on
stage (the same as any referenced male character). This emphasises
his power, as he is able to control Adela and the other sisters without
ever appearing himself. He is an expression of male power.
○ He is omnipresent (“está omnipresente”).
● Pepe el Romano is an invisible character (“un personaje invisible”) who
dominates the action of the play (“domina la acción de la obra”).
○ Although he does not appear on stage, his role is very important
in the play (“Aunque no aparece en escena, su papel es muy
importante en la obra”).
○ He doesn’t have any dialogue (“el diágolo”) either.
● Although Pepe is never on stage, he is the centre of the daughters’
conversations and he is often referred to (“a menudo se hace referencia
a él”)
The Cause of Conflict Between the Sisters
● The love interest for Angustias, Martirio, and (primarily) Adela.
○ All of the daughters are obsessed with Pepe (“todas las hijas
están obsesionadas con Pepe”).
○ He is the secret lover (“el amante secreto”) of Adela, the
youngest, while engaged to marry Angustias (“mientras está
comprometido con Angustias”), the eldest.
● He is only interested in Angustias for her money (“solo le interesa a
Angustias por su dinero”), whilst having a sexual relationship with
Adela.
, ○ “MAGDALENA.- Si viniera por el tipo de Angustias, por Angustias
como mujer, yo me alegraría, pero viene por el dinero.”
■ Magdalena- If he came for Angustias’ figure, for Angustias
as a woman, I’d be happy, but he comes for the money.
○ Adela is shocked to learn about the engagement, and intends to
be his mistress, causing arguments amongst the daughters (“las
discusiones entre las hijas”).
○ He wants to marry Angustias because she is the heiress (“la
heredera”) to her father’s fortune.
○ Pepe’s greed (“la avaricia”) causes conflict between the sisters.
○ He sets off the conflict of the play (“Desencadenó el conflicto de
la obra”).
● Pepe uses his powers of seduction to destroy the harmony between the
sisters.
○ Pepe usa sus poderes de seducción para destruir la armonía
entre las hermanas.
● Martirio is also in love with Pepe (“está enamorada con Pepe”), and the
jealousy (“los celos”) between the sisters causes Martirio to reveal the
affair, leading to Adela’s death.
● Pepe represents that dark and sinful desire of the sisters.
○ Pepe representa el deseo oscuro y pecaminoso de las hermanas.
● This secret love affair that Pepe keeps going with Adela is discovered
by Martirio, which causes the main conflict in the play and provokes
Bernarda’s rage to the point that she wants to kill him when she
discovers it.
○ Esta relación de amor secreta que Pepe mantiene con Adela es
descubierta por Martirio, lo que da lugar así al mayor conflicto de
la obra y provoca la ira de Bernarda al punto de querer asesinarlo
cuando lo descubre.
Pepe’s Presence in The Play
● Pepe is one of three men quoted in the play, but he never appears on
stage (the same as any referenced male character). This emphasises
his power, as he is able to control Adela and the other sisters without
ever appearing himself. He is an expression of male power.
○ He is omnipresent (“está omnipresente”).
● Pepe el Romano is an invisible character (“un personaje invisible”) who
dominates the action of the play (“domina la acción de la obra”).
○ Although he does not appear on stage, his role is very important
in the play (“Aunque no aparece en escena, su papel es muy
importante en la obra”).
○ He doesn’t have any dialogue (“el diágolo”) either.
● Although Pepe is never on stage, he is the centre of the daughters’
conversations and he is often referred to (“a menudo se hace referencia
a él”)
The Cause of Conflict Between the Sisters
● The love interest for Angustias, Martirio, and (primarily) Adela.
○ All of the daughters are obsessed with Pepe (“todas las hijas
están obsesionadas con Pepe”).
○ He is the secret lover (“el amante secreto”) of Adela, the
youngest, while engaged to marry Angustias (“mientras está
comprometido con Angustias”), the eldest.
● He is only interested in Angustias for her money (“solo le interesa a
Angustias por su dinero”), whilst having a sexual relationship with
Adela.
, ○ “MAGDALENA.- Si viniera por el tipo de Angustias, por Angustias
como mujer, yo me alegraría, pero viene por el dinero.”
■ Magdalena- If he came for Angustias’ figure, for Angustias
as a woman, I’d be happy, but he comes for the money.
○ Adela is shocked to learn about the engagement, and intends to
be his mistress, causing arguments amongst the daughters (“las
discusiones entre las hijas”).
○ He wants to marry Angustias because she is the heiress (“la
heredera”) to her father’s fortune.
○ Pepe’s greed (“la avaricia”) causes conflict between the sisters.
○ He sets off the conflict of the play (“Desencadenó el conflicto de
la obra”).
● Pepe uses his powers of seduction to destroy the harmony between the
sisters.
○ Pepe usa sus poderes de seducción para destruir la armonía
entre las hermanas.
● Martirio is also in love with Pepe (“está enamorada con Pepe”), and the
jealousy (“los celos”) between the sisters causes Martirio to reveal the
affair, leading to Adela’s death.
● Pepe represents that dark and sinful desire of the sisters.
○ Pepe representa el deseo oscuro y pecaminoso de las hermanas.
● This secret love affair that Pepe keeps going with Adela is discovered
by Martirio, which causes the main conflict in the play and provokes
Bernarda’s rage to the point that she wants to kill him when she
discovers it.
○ Esta relación de amor secreta que Pepe mantiene con Adela es
descubierta por Martirio, lo que da lugar así al mayor conflicto de
la obra y provoca la ira de Bernarda al punto de querer asesinarlo
cuando lo descubre.
