Blood Wedding: Journal #1

Setting: This includes cultural as well as geographical and historical setting. What effect does the setting have on story, characters, theme?

This play was written in about 1933 in Spain. This fact influences the story in that the culture and style is Spanish and it is set in a slightly old-fashion tone compared to now days. The story takes place out in a country type area where people own a lot of land and vineyards. They have to walk long ways just to get to a neighbors house. This setting effects the characters in that distance comes up a lot in their speech. When the Bridegroom and his Mother go to see the Bride and her Father, the Mother mentions the distance and how it was so long for her. "Father: Was it a long journey? Mother: Four hours" (29). This distance will probably have an effect on the story itself. I am assuming this is a foreshadowing into something bad that is to come from distance.

There is also lack of water in the land it seems. The Bridegroom says how there are "drylands" (28) but in other places there are "cliffs by the river" (29). The good land is what everyone wants and longs for. The Father mentions at one point the vineyards/orchards are the most important and they are what brings in the money: "that little orchard stuck right in the middle of my property. They won't sell it to me for all the gold in the world" (30). The reader can see that he has tried very hard to get this land and that it is worth a lot just through the way he uses the imagery of how they won't sell it for lots of money. He also says "Your vineyards are woth a fortune. Each young vine a silver coin!" (30). This shows how much these vineyards/orchards mean to the people too. This geological feature will also probably play a part in the story, through greed or jealousy.

Through those two simple examples the reader can see how much the setting of a story can effect a character, the story itself or even the theme. I haven't read enough to know what themes there are but I am sure this setting will play some part in them. Setting is going to have a big impact on this drama.