Buscar un destino en la capital. Madrid y personajes femeninos de zarzuelas (1886-1932)

Abstract

In this text female characters belonging to five operettas which take place in Madrid are analised and compared. The librettos locate women in crossings where several coordinates converge: Social status, personality, ethnical principles, occupation, age, and birthplace. Each woman shares a few of her coordinates with the others, and two that are equal in coordinates cannot be found. In consecuence, each crossing turns out unique and belongs specifically to each character. This is the main reason why every role, leading or secondary, are far from being generic stereotypes or cliches, and opposingly, leave open a several number of interpretations regarding the women's relationship with their family, their neighbourhood, the city and the historical context. The relationships with Madrid depend on whether the capital city appears as the birthplace, magnet for people from other regions, center of big historical conflicts or space for innumerable and varied anonymous stories.