Brief summary of "History of a staircase" by Antonio Buero Vallejo

Antonio Buero Vallejo placeholder image

In the work of Antonio Buero Vallejo placeholder image, «History of a staircase», three generations living in the same building are staged to represent the social and existential frustration in Spanish life in the first half of the XNUMXth century. The staircase, a closed and symbolic space, and the inexorable passage of time favor a cyclical and repetitive structure that underlines the failure of the characters.

Act one

The first act takes place on a day in 1919. Carmina and Fernando, two young people who live in a modest building, meet on the landing or "casinillo" of the staircase.

Act two

The second act takes place ten years later. Urbano asks Carmina to accept him as her husband. Elvira and Fernando have gotten married.

Act three

This third act takes place in 1949, the year the play was released. Fernando, son of Elvira and Fernando, and Carmina, daughter of Urbano and Carmina, are in love, but their parents have forbidden this relationship due to bitterness and frustration caused by their own failure.

Synopsis of «Story of a ladder»

«History of a staircase» is a play (1947 and 1948) by Antonio Buero Vallejo, for which he received the Lope de Vega Prize. It premiered at the Spanish Theater in Madrid on October 14, 1949. In it, Spanish society, with all its lies, is analyzed through the neighborhood of a ladder.

The central theme of Story of a ladder

Story of a ladder tells us the story of several people who are in poverty and throughout their generations, continue to maintain that status, even though they want to get out. However, they do not find a way out of their situation and that causes resentment, envy, lies, resentment ... between all the neighbors on a staircase. Especially if any of them stand out.

Thus, Antonio Vallejo shows us how frustration, wanting to stand out from others, and struggle in the lower classes without obtaining reward it is undermining the person, making her bitter and making all the bad things in the human being flourish.

Some stories stand out that may well be a true reflection of society, such as Fernando, who as a teenager dreamed that he would be a great and wealthy architect; and yet, as the years go by, it is seen that he continues to live in that house and is still poor.

In some way, the author shows that education and the way of treating children influences them to repeat the same pattern that prevents them from getting out of that poverty.

The characters in Story of a ladder

As can be seen from the foregoing, Historia de una escala does not focus only on one era, but rather spans three generations of three different families and how they evolve differently. Thus, there are many characters, but each of them corresponds to a generation. In this case, we are talking about:

First generation Story of a ladder

In it the characters are:

  • Don Manuel: He is a rich character who lives in that place but, unlike others, he wants to help his neighbors with the money he has. His "right eye" is his daughter Elvira, the problem is that this is a capricious girl who, having lived in wealth, does not realize what is truly important.
  • Doña Kindness (Asuncion): She is Fernando's mother, a woman who does what she can for her son to have a pleasant life. Many think that she is rich, but in reality she is the poorest in the place.
  • Bale: She is the mother of three children, Trini, Urbano and Rosa. Her husband is Mr. Juan and he is an authoritarian woman who likes to keep her children under control.
  • Gregory: He was the father of Carmina and Pepe, but he passes away and makes the family in a sad situation.
  • Generous: She is Gregorio's wife, a widow and saddened by the loss of her husband. Despite having two children, his favorite is the girl.

Second generation

In the second generation, several years have passed and the children seen in the first have grown. Now they are young adults who are beginning to walk through life alone. Thus, we have:

  • Fernando: In love with Carmina. However, wanting to be someone else, and instead of deciding for his heart, he does it for the money, so he marries Elvira. That makes, after a while, he becomes boastful, lazy ... and loses the illusion to live. He also has two children, Fernando and Manolín.
  • Carmina: Carmina starts out as a shy girl who doesn't want anyone to trust her. She is in love with Fernando, but in the end she ends up marrying Urbano. She has a daughter named after her.
  • Elvira: Elvira grew up between whims and money, so she has never lacked for anything. However, he is envious of what Carmina has.
  • Transport: It is believed that he is right in everything and that he can be above the others because he knows more. He is rude, but very hard working, realistic and whenever he can he tries to help.
  • Pepe: Carmina's brother. He is a man who, as life goes by, he becomes more sullen and consumed by it. Finally, although he is married to Rosa, he is a womanizer and an alcoholic.
  • Pink: She is Urbano's sister. She marries Pepe and her marriage leads her to a miserable life, with which they die in life.
  • Trini: She stays single despite being pretty and nice to others.

Third generation Story of a ladder

Finally, the third generation presents us with three characters, which are already glimpsed in the previous one:

  • Fernando: The son of Elvira and Fernando, very similar to his father in terms of attractiveness, vagueness, gigolo, etc. He loves to make plans for the future and his crush is Carmina's daughter, Carmina.
  • Manolin: He is Fernando's brother and he has always been the darling of the family, so every time he gets a chance he messes with Fernando.
  • Carmina: She is the daughter of Carmina and Urbano, with a way of being very similar to her mother in her youth. She is also in love with Fernando, but her family does not want her to be related to him.

The structure of the story

Stairs, the main element of the Story of a staircase

Story of a staircase has a structure very similar in itself to a novel, where you have a introductory part, a knot, or conflict; and a part of the outcome which, in a way, seems to have an ending that will repeat the same sequence over and over again for the characters.

Specifically, in this story you will find the following:

Introduction

It is undoubtedly the first generation in history, since the origins of the characters are told, those children who appear and who are going to be the protagonists after the time jump.

Naked

The knot, or conflict, is the part where the most attention is paid in the novels because it is where the whole essence of the novel occurs. And, in this case, the knot itself is the entire second generation where you see how they live, frustrations, grudges, lies, etc.

Outcome

Finally, the end, which is really open and which follows the same pattern so that everything is repeated, It is the third generation, where it is seen that children are going to make the same mistakes as parents. And even these encourage them to what they do.

The meaning of the ladder

One of the key elements of History of a staircase is the staircase itself. It's about a unflappable element, that is there perennial with the passage of the years, and generation, after generation it remains as a link of union of all the neighbors of that place.

However, it also shows the passage of time, since at the beginning you see a new, shiny staircase, and with the passage of time, and above all continuing in that sea of ​​poverty and not being able to stand out, it is consumed, it becomes old, more run-down.

Thus, the ladder itself becomes one more character that is present in all generations and contemplates, mute, the lives of the other characters.

Quotes by Antonio Buero Vallejo

  • If your love is not lacking, I will undertake many things.
  • It is very nice to see that you are still remembered.
  • Don't be in a hurry ... There is so much to talk about that ... Silence is also necessary.
  • I love you with your sadness and your anguish; to suffer with you and not to lead you into some false realm of joy.
  • They have allowed themselves to be overcome by life. Thirty years have passed up and down this ladder ... becoming more petty and vulgar every day. But we will not let ourselves be defeated by this environment. Not! Because we will leave here. We will support each other. You will help me up, to leave this miserable house forever, these constant fights, these straits. You will help me, right? Tell me yes, please. Tell me! (Phrase from the book «History of a staircase»).

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