The House of Bernarda Alba

by

Federico García Lorca

Antonio María Benavides Character Analysis

Antonio María Benavides is Bernarda Alba’s second husband and the father of Magdalena, Amelia, Martirio, and Adela. He dies shortly before the events of the play, much of which deals with his family’s conflicts over how to mourn him. While Bernarda remembers him as an honorable, ethical man, the Maid reveals that he used to “lift up [her] skirts” in the corral. Like Pepe el Romano, he is more of an idea than an actual character in the play, which further shows how men abuse their power over women. The perception of honor matters more than actually honorable behavior in the rural culture that Bernarda and her family uphold.

Antonio María Benavides Quotes in The House of Bernarda Alba

The The House of Bernarda Alba quotes below are all either spoken by Antonio María Benavides or refer to Antonio María Benavides. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Freedom, Desire, and Tragedy  Theme Icon
).
Act 1 Quotes

(As the two hundred women mourners finish coming in, BERNARDA ALBA and her five daughters appear. BERNARDA is leaning on a cane)

BERNARDA: (To the MAID) Silence!

Related Characters: Bernarda Alba (speaker), Adela, The Maid, Antonio María Benavides
Page Number: 199
Explanation and Analysis:

ADELA: Here you are. (She gives her a round fan decorated with red and green flowers)

BERNARDA: (Hurling the fan to the floor) Is this the fan you give to a widow? Give me a black one, and learn to respect your father’s memory!

Related Characters: Bernarda Alba (speaker), Adela (speaker), Antonio María Benavides
Related Symbols: White, Black, and Color
Page Number: 204-205
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 3 Quotes

BERNARDA: I want no weeping. We must look death in the face. Silence! (To another daughter) Be quiet, I said! (To another daughter) Tears, when you’re alone. We will all drown ourselves in a sea of mourning. The youngest daughter of Bernarda Alba has died a virgin. Did you hear me? Silence! Silence, I said! Silence!

CURTAIN

Related Characters: Bernarda Alba (speaker), Adela, Pepe el Romano , Antonio María Benavides
Page Number: 288
Explanation and Analysis:
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Antonio María Benavides Quotes in The House of Bernarda Alba

The The House of Bernarda Alba quotes below are all either spoken by Antonio María Benavides or refer to Antonio María Benavides. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Freedom, Desire, and Tragedy  Theme Icon
).
Act 1 Quotes

(As the two hundred women mourners finish coming in, BERNARDA ALBA and her five daughters appear. BERNARDA is leaning on a cane)

BERNARDA: (To the MAID) Silence!

Related Characters: Bernarda Alba (speaker), Adela, The Maid, Antonio María Benavides
Page Number: 199
Explanation and Analysis:

ADELA: Here you are. (She gives her a round fan decorated with red and green flowers)

BERNARDA: (Hurling the fan to the floor) Is this the fan you give to a widow? Give me a black one, and learn to respect your father’s memory!

Related Characters: Bernarda Alba (speaker), Adela (speaker), Antonio María Benavides
Related Symbols: White, Black, and Color
Page Number: 204-205
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 3 Quotes

BERNARDA: I want no weeping. We must look death in the face. Silence! (To another daughter) Be quiet, I said! (To another daughter) Tears, when you’re alone. We will all drown ourselves in a sea of mourning. The youngest daughter of Bernarda Alba has died a virgin. Did you hear me? Silence! Silence, I said! Silence!

CURTAIN

Related Characters: Bernarda Alba (speaker), Adela, Pepe el Romano , Antonio María Benavides
Page Number: 288
Explanation and Analysis: