Setting
The cultural setting is of primary importance to the novel. It is important to note that Spanish society, especially in the 1930s when the novel was written, is fundamental to the actions and more importantly belief systems of the individuals living within it. Taking place in Roman Catholic (Spanis) society, the novel's social rules are prevalent; the Spanish have a long history of loyalty to the Church, take the horrific Inquisition and the asserting of Divine Right, for example. . Social rules that govern the characters are apparent. The mother, who is bitter about the deaths of her son and father because of the Felix family, cannot vocalize her hatred at the wedding because it is not considered acceptable: “You must keep quiet. Or people will criticized”(Lorca 60). This rule is direct. Prior to the bride running off with Leonardo, the mother controls herself and follows this rule. However, the moment it is revealed that the two have run off, the mother creates chaos and literally declares it the “hour of blood” (77). The broader effect this has on the story is that it creates these religiously instated boundaries that characters are not expected to cross. When they do cross them, the effect then has more impact. For example, the Bride is not by any means allowed to run off with Leonardo -- indeed her doing so demands vengeance. Whereas, in our society which legally and socially (moreorless) permits that sort of thing, the effect is NOT as impactful.
The generic landscape - a barren farm town -- puts emphasis on the actions of the individuals and not so much on the physical setting. The juxtaposing of rich passion with mundane desert is more powerful as a result. The setting also highlights some important themes within the novel - that of passion over social conventionality, that of human's instinctual and often unfulfilling need for revenge, and that of tragedy. Indeed, the tragic elements which are foreshadowed truly reflect the barren land of the Bride and her Father.
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