The Guitar

From an emotional standpoint, the act of weeping occurs for a plethora of reasons, including deep sadness, longing, happiness, or any variation thereof. The actual sound of weeping can also vary from a low moan or whimper to a guttural explosion. In Lorca’s poem, both meanings are important, as his aim is to highlight the aural capabilities of the guitar as well as the dark emotions associated with the cante jondo style. He writes that the guitar “weeps monotonously/as water weeps/as the wind weeps” (Lines 11-13). Through these two comparisons, Lorca highlights the consistent, constant note of the instrument in terms the reader can understand. At the same time, he emphasizes the action of weeping as though it were contagious, moving from vessel to vessel, exerting its emotional intensity.

While Lorca refers to the poem as simply “The Guitar,” his intention is to celebrate the flamenco guitar specifically, which is distinct from other guitars because of its design and the way it is played. The flamenco guitar has a higher pitch and sharper sound than other guitars, which Lorca suggests with his lines “The goblets of dawn / are smashed” (Lines 3-4). Traditional flamenco music is usually improvised and, therefore, passes down through oral tradition.