'La Casada Infiel' by Federico García Lorca


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Y que yo me la llevé al río
creyendo que era mozuela,
pero tenía marido.
Fue la noche de Santiago
y casi por compromiso.
Se apagaron los faroles
y se encendieron los grillos.
En las últimas esquinas
toqué sus pechos dormidos,
y se me abrieron de pronto
como ramos de jacintos..
El almidón de su enagua
me sonaba en el oído,
como una pieza de seda
rasgada por diez cuchillos.
Sin luz de plata en sus copas
los árboles han crecido,
y un horizonte de perros
ladra muy lejos del río.

Pasadas la zarzamoras,
los juncos y los espinos,
bajo su mata de pelo
hice un hoyo sobre el limo.
Yo me quité la corbata.
Ella se quitó el vestido.
Yo el cinturón de revólver.
Ella sus cuatro corpiños.
Ni nardos ni caracolas
tienen el cutis tan fino,
ni los critales con luna
relumbran con ese brillo.
Sus muslos se me escapaban
como peces sorprendidos,
la mitad llenos de lumbre,
la mitad llenos de frío.
Aquella noche corrí
el mejor de los caminos,
montado en potra de nácar
sin bridas y sin estribos.
No quiero decir, por hombre,
las cosas que ella me dijo.
La luz del entendimiento
me hace ser muy comedido.
Sucia de besos y arena
yo me la llevé al río.
Con el aire se batían
las espadas de los lirios.

Me porté como quien soy.
Como un gitano legítimo.
La regalé un costurero
grande de raso pajizo,
y no quise enamorarme
porque teniendo marido
me dijo que era mozuela
cuando la llevaba al río.

Editor 1 Interpretation

La Casada Infiel by Federico García Lorca: A Poem of Passion and Betrayal

La Casada Infiel, or The Unfaithful Wife, is a poem by Federico García Lorca, a Spanish poet and playwright who is considered one of the most important literary figures of the 20th century. Written in 1929, the poem is part of a collection of poems called Divan del Tamarit and is known for its passionate language, vivid imagery, and intense emotions. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, symbolism, and literary devices used in La Casada Infiel and analyze how they contribute to the poem's overall meaning and impact.

Themes

One of the main themes of La Casada Infiel is adultery or infidelity, which is evident in the title itself. The poem tells the story of a married woman who falls in love with a man who is not her husband and has an affair with him. The poem explores the complex emotions and psychological turmoil that the woman experiences as she struggles with her feelings of love and guilt.

Another important theme in the poem is passion, which is conveyed through the vivid and sensual imagery used by Lorca. The poem is full of metaphors and symbols that evoke a sense of intense desire and longing, such as the image of the olive tree that represents the woman's lover or the sound of the water that symbolizes the woman's inner turmoil.

The poem also touches on the themes of societal norms and expectations, as the woman's infidelity is seen as a violation of the traditional gender roles and moral values of Spanish society at the time. The poem challenges these norms by portraying the woman as a complex and multi-dimensional character, rather than a one-dimensional stereotype.

Symbolism

One of the most striking aspects of La Casada Infiel is its use of symbolism to convey the poem's themes and emotions. The poem is full of images and metaphors that represent the woman's inner turmoil and her struggle to reconcile her love for her husband with her passion for her lover.

One of the most powerful symbols in the poem is the olive tree, which represents the woman's lover. The tree is described as "a tower of dark fragrance" and "a green fountain," reflecting the man's masculine strength and vitality, as well as the intense passion that the woman feels for him. The image of the tree also conveys a sense of rootedness and permanence, suggesting that the woman's love for her lover is deep and enduring.

Another important symbol in the poem is the water, which represents the woman's conflicting emotions and inner turmoil. The sound of the water is described as "a voice that trembles with desire," reflecting the woman's intense longing and the tension between her desire for her lover and her guilt over betraying her husband. The water also symbolizes the woman's fluidity and changeability, as she is torn between her different emotions and desires.

Literary Devices

Lorca's use of literary devices is also a key aspect of the poem's impact and meaning. One of the most prominent devices is the use of repetition, which creates a sense of rhythm and reinforces the poem's themes and emotions. The repetition of phrases like "green, green" and "olive tree" emphasizes the woman's passion and the intensity of her feelings for her lover.

Another important device is the use of imagery, which helps to create a vivid and sensual world that draws the reader into the poem. The descriptions of the olive tree, the water, and the woman's body are rich and evocative, creating a sense of intimacy and sensuality that heightens the poem's emotional impact.

Lorca also uses metaphor and symbolism to convey the poem's themes and emotions. The image of the olive tree, for example, is a powerful metaphor for the woman's lover, while the water represents her inner turmoil and conflicted emotions. These metaphors not only add depth and complexity to the poem's meaning, but also help to create a sense of unity and coherence.

Interpretation

La Casada Infiel is a complex and multi-layered poem that can be interpreted in many different ways. At its core, however, the poem is a powerful exploration of the human heart and the conflict between love and duty, desire and morality.

On one level, the poem can be seen as a critique of the traditional gender roles and moral values of Spanish society at the time. The woman's infidelity challenges the idea that women should be passive and submissive, and suggests that they have their own desires and passions that cannot be easily suppressed or ignored.

On another level, the poem can be seen as a meditation on the nature of love and desire. The woman's intense passion for her lover is contrasted with her love for her husband, creating a tension between the emotional and the practical aspects of love. The poem suggests that love is a complex and multifaceted emotion that cannot be easily defined or controlled.

Ultimately, however, the poem is a testament to the power of language and art to capture the complexity and richness of the human experience. Lorca's use of vivid imagery, powerful symbolism, and evocative language creates a world that is both sensual and emotional, drawing the reader into the woman's inner world and allowing us to feel her conflicting emotions and desires.

Conclusion

La Casada Infiel is a poem of profound emotional depth and complexity, exploring the themes of adultery, passion, and societal norms with sensitivity and insight. Through its use of vivid imagery, powerful symbolism, and evocative language, the poem captures the complex and multi-dimensional nature of the human heart, revealing the tension between love and duty, desire and morality. As a work of art, the poem is a powerful testament to the power of language to capture the richness and complexity of the human experience, inviting us to enter into the world of the woman and feel her emotions and desires as our own.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

La Casada Infiel: A Masterpiece of Passion and Betrayal

Federico García Lorca, the renowned Spanish poet, playwright, and theatre director, is known for his evocative and sensual works that explore themes of love, death, and the human condition. Among his most celebrated poems is La Casada Infiel, a powerful and haunting piece that delves into the complexities of desire, infidelity, and the consequences of betrayal.

Written in 1929, La Casada Infiel tells the story of a married woman who succumbs to the charms of a handsome stranger and embarks on a passionate affair. The poem is structured in four stanzas, each with four lines, and follows a simple ABAB rhyme scheme. However, the simplicity of the form belies the depth and complexity of the emotions and ideas that Lorca explores in the poem.

The poem opens with a vivid description of the woman's encounter with the stranger:

Y que yo me la llevé al río creyendo que era mozuela, pero tenía marido.

(And I took her to the river thinking she was a maiden, but she had a husband.)

The imagery here is rich and evocative, with the river symbolizing the flow of passion and desire that carries the woman away from her mundane life. The use of the word "mozuela" (maiden) suggests that the woman is young and innocent, but the revelation that she has a husband immediately complicates the situation and introduces the theme of betrayal.

The second stanza explores the intensity of the woman's passion for the stranger:

Fue la noche de Santiago y casi por compromiso. Se apagaron los faroles y se encendieron los grillos.

(It was the night of Saint James and almost by obligation. The streetlights went out and the crickets began to sing.)

The use of the phrase "casi por compromiso" (almost by obligation) suggests that the woman's decision to be with the stranger was not entirely voluntary, but rather driven by a sense of duty or obligation. This idea is reinforced by the image of the streetlights going out, which suggests a loss of control or agency. However, the sudden appearance of the crickets, which are often associated with love and passion in Spanish literature, suggests that the woman's desire for the stranger is genuine and intense.

The third stanza explores the aftermath of the woman's infidelity:

En las últimas barrancas, del agua de la ribera tengo un ramo de espigas y una rosa que era suya.

(On the last slopes, by the water's edge, I have a bouquet of wheat and a rose that was hers.)

The use of the word "barrancas" (slopes) suggests a sense of isolation and loneliness, as if the woman has been cast out from society as a result of her actions. The bouquet of wheat and the rose are symbols of the woman's love for the stranger, but they also represent the pain and guilt that she feels as a result of her betrayal.

The final stanza brings the poem to a powerful and poignant conclusion:

Y un perro que al sentirme venir le ladra a la flor. ¡Ay, cómo ladra a la vida el maldito animal!

(And a dog that barks at the flower when it senses me coming. Oh, how the cursed animal barks at life!)

The image of the dog barking at the flower is a powerful metaphor for the woman's guilt and shame, as if the natural world itself is condemning her actions. The use of the word "maldito" (cursed) suggests a sense of moral judgment and condemnation, as if the woman's infidelity has brought a curse upon herself and those around her.

Overall, La Casada Infiel is a masterpiece of passion and betrayal, exploring the complexities of human desire and the consequences of infidelity. Lorca's use of vivid imagery, rich symbolism, and evocative language creates a powerful and haunting portrait of a woman caught between her duty to her husband and her overwhelming desire for another man. The poem is a testament to Lorca's skill as a poet and his ability to capture the essence of the human experience in all its beauty and complexity.

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