Why You Should Read El Adefesio by Rafael Alberti: A Review of the Play and Its Themes
El Adefesio: A Masterpiece of Spanish Theatre by Rafael Alberti
If you are interested in Spanish literature and theatre, you should not miss El Adefesio, a play written by Rafael Alberti, one of the most prominent poets and playwrights of the 20th century. El Adefesio is a complex and fascinating work that explores the themes of love, war, identity, and memory. In this article, we will tell you what El Adefesio is about, why it is important, and how you can download it for free as a PDF file.
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What is El Adefesio about?
El Adefesio (The Monstrosity) is a play that was written by Rafael Alberti in 1944, during his exile in Argentina after the Spanish Civil War. The play is set in a fictional country called Albia, which is under the dictatorship of General Zelmar. The play revolves around the love triangle between Zelmar's wife, Elena; his nephew and heir, Fernando; and a mysterious woman named Laura, who claims to be Fernando's long-lost sister.
The play begins with Elena confessing her love for Fernando to her maid, Isabel. She reveals that she married Zelmar out of convenience and that she has been secretly seeing Fernando for a long time. She also tells Isabel that she plans to run away with Fernando and start a new life in another country. However, their plans are interrupted by the arrival of Laura, who claims to be Fernando's sister who was separated from him during the war. Laura says that she has come to Albia to reunite with her brother and to seek revenge on Zelmar, who killed her parents and destroyed her homeland.
Laura soon wins the trust and affection of Fernando, who believes her story and welcomes her as his sister. She also manages to seduce Zelmar, who falls in love with her and decides to divorce Elena and marry Laura instead. Elena is devastated by this turn of events and confronts Laura, who reveals her true identity and motives. Laura tells Elena that she is not Fernando's sister, but his lover. She also tells Elena that she is not from Albia, but from a neighboring country called Lusia, which was invaded and annexed by Zelmar. She says that she has come to Albia to kill Zelmar and free Lusia from his tyranny.
The play ends with a dramatic climax, in which Laura attempts to assassinate Zelmar during his wedding ceremony with her. However, she fails to kill him and instead wounds Fernando, who tries to stop her. Laura then kills herself with a dagger, while Fernando dies in Elena's arms. Zelmar survives the attack and remains in power.
Why is El Adefesio important?
El Adefesio is an important play for several reasons. First of all, it is a reflection of Alberti's personal and political views during his exile. Alberti was a supporter of the Spanish Republic and a critic of Franco's dictatorship. He also sympathized with the anti-fascist movements in Europe and Latin America. Through El Adefesio, he expressed his opposition to totalitarianism and imperialism, as well as his hope for democracy and freedom.
Secondly, El Adefesio is an example of Alberti's artistic innovation and experimentation. Alberti was influenced by various literary and theatrical movements, such as surrealism, expressionism, symbolism, and classical tragedy. He combined these elements in El Adefesio to create a unique style that challenged the conventions of realism and naturalism. He used poetic language, symbolic imagery, dramatic irony, and musical elements to create a rich and complex work that appealed to both the intellect and the emotions.
Thirdly, El Adefesio is a universal work that transcends its historical context and speaks to contemporary audiences. The play deals with timeless themes such as love, betrayal, revenge, identity, and memory. It also explores the psychological and moral dilemmas of its characters, who are caught between their personal desires and their social responsibilities. The play raises questions about the nature of human relationships, the role of art and culture in society, and the consequences of war and violence.
How to download El Adefesio by Rafael Alberti for free?
If you want to download El Adefesio by Rafael Alberti for free as a PDF file, you can use various online platforms that offer free PDF downloads of various books and plays. However, you should be careful about the quality and legality of these downloads, as some of them may contain errors or malware or violate copyright laws.
Some of the platforms that you can use to download El Adefesio by Rafael Alberti for free are:
Internet Archive: This is a website that provides access to various digital media files, including books, plays, movies, music, etc. You can find El Adefesio by Rafael Alberti on this website. You can either read it online or download it as a PDF file.
Scribd: This is a website that allows users to upload and share various documents online. You can find El Adefesio by Rafael Alberti on this website. You can either read it online or download it as a PDF file.
Open Library: This is a website that offers free access to millions of books across various languages and genres. You can find El Adefesio by Rafael Alberti on this website. You can either read it online or download it as a PDF file.
How to read and appreciate El Adefesio by Rafael Alberti?
El Adefesio by Rafael Alberti is a challenging and rewarding play that requires careful and attentive reading. The play is full of poetic language, symbolic imagery, musical elements, and social criticism. The play also has a complex structure, with flashbacks, parallel scenes, and multiple levels of reality. To read and appreciate El Adefesio by Rafael Alberti, you should follow these steps:
Read the introduction and the notes: Before you start reading the play, you should read the introduction and the notes that accompany the text. These will provide you with some background information about the author, the historical and cultural context, the main themes and motifs, and the literary and theatrical influences of the play. They will also help you understand some of the references, allusions, and terms that appear in the play.
Read the play aloud or listen to an audio version: El Adefesio by Rafael Alberti is a play that is meant to be performed and heard, not just read silently. The play has a musical quality, with rhythm, rhyme, sound effects, and songs. The play also has a dramatic quality, with dialogue, action, gestures, and expressions. To appreciate these aspects of the play, you should read it aloud or listen to an audio version of it. This will help you enjoy the beauty and power of the language and the emotions of the characters.