Farewell Summary – Federico Garcia Lorca
Farewell by Federico Garcia Lorca (1898–1936) is a romantic lyric that reflects love for life and its simple pleasures, even in the face of death. The speaker does not want to disconnect from the physical world after dying. He requests that someone keep the balcony open so he can still see life continue outside. From his balcony, he wishes to watch a boy eating oranges and hear a reaper singing while harvesting wheat.
These images highlight the beauty of everyday life. The boy eating oranges represents youth, present desires, and hunger for enjoyment. On the other hand, the reaper harvesting wheat reflects adulthood, where people focus on money and survival. Both remain unaware of death, unlike the old speaker who lies on his deathbed.
The repeated word balcony in the poem emphasizes the speaker’s deep attachment to life. He longs to celebrate its joys rather than surrender to death. For him, the ultimate farewell—death—feels like the most painful departure.
In short, Farewell reveals Lorca’s message: life is real, beautiful, and worth enjoying, but death is the final, bitter goodbye.
Analysis of the Poem – Farewell by Federico García Lorca
The poem Farewell is very short but rich in meaning. In just a few lines, Lorca blends life, death, and desire for continuity.
1. Theme of Life and Death
The poem presents death not as an escape but as a moment where the speaker still longs to remain connected with life. Instead of asking for silence, prayer, or mourning, the speaker simply asks: “Leave the balcony open.” This shows his wish to remain part of the living world even after death.
2. Symbol of the Balcony
The balcony works as a boundary between life and death. It allows the dying speaker to see, hear, and feel life outside. The balcony becomes a metaphorical “window to existence,” where the poet’s soul wishes to remain attached to ordinary joys.
3. Imagery of Daily Life
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The boy eating oranges: This symbolizes youth, innocence, and the present moment. The boy represents those who live for today without worrying about the future.
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The reaper harvesting wheat: The reaper symbolizes work, adulthood, and human responsibility. It also suggests the cycle of life—growth and harvest—while indirectly hinting at the “grim reaper,” a traditional figure of death.
Through these images, Lorca contrasts youth and adulthood, showing that both remain unconscious of death, unlike the speaker.
4. Repetition of “If I die, leave the balcony open”
The repeated lines emphasize the speaker’s deepest desire—to stay connected with life and witness its beauty, even in death. It creates a rhythm that mirrors both a farewell and a longing.
5. Emotional Tone
The poem sounds simple but is filled with melancholy and tenderness. Instead of fear, the speaker expresses gentle acceptance. He finds comfort in ordinary scenes of life—eating, working, singing.
6. Message of the Poem
Lorca reminds us that life is precious. Even when death comes, humans still yearn for the beauty of daily experiences. The poem teaches us to appreciate the small moments—fruit in a child’s hand, a song in the fields—because these are the true pleasures of living.
✅ In summary:
Farewell is not only about death but also about the celebration of life. The speaker values simple human joys and requests that death should not shut him off from them. The balcony becomes a symbol of his eternal gaze upon life’s beauty.