18th & 19th Century Spanish Literature: Styles & Movements

Posted on Sep 18, 2024 in Latin

18th and 19th Century Spanish Literature

Period of Change (17th-19th Centuries)

The 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries were marked by major social and historical shifts. The 18th century saw the rise of enlightened thinking, the reign of Charles II, and the War of Succession. The 19th century experienced political and economic changes due to Napoleon’s influence, including the rise of industrialization, the Peninsular War (1808), the fight for independence (as depicted in Goya’s “The Third of May 1808”), the return to absolute monarchy in 1814, and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy from 1833-1868.

Neoclassical Literature

Neoclassical literature reflects the Enlightenment’s emphasis on reason. It affirms the power of reason, places the people at the center of the world, and returns to the canons of Greco-Latin aesthetics. This period is called Neoclassicism because it draws inspiration from Greco-Roman fables and subgenres with moralistic and didactic purposes, often using animals as characters.

Key Authors and Genres:

Fable: Felix Maria Samaniego and Tomas de Iriarte
Essay: Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos. The essay provided clear perspectives on issues, aiming to encourage reflection in the reader.
Epistolary Novel: Benito Jerónimo Feijoo and José Cadalso believed that showcasing the flaws of the Enlightenment was beneficial for societal reform. They offered an objective and diverse vision of society. Cadalso’s notable work is “Cartas Marruecas.”

Romantic Literature

Romanticism brought a new vision of the world, with artists seeking fresh forms of expression to convey subjectivity.

Key Themes and Styles:

Love: Idealized love is seen as the foundation of existence and the path to ultimate happiness, often contrasted with a tragic and fatal destiny.
Liberty: A variant of patriotism, understanding the nation as a symbol of freedom.
Existence: A source of agony and disillusionment. The poet often identifies their emotional state with nature.
Style and Metrics: Romantics used suggestive vocabulary and musical language to reflect feelings. They embraced freedom of form, employing stanzas of varying lengths.

Key Poets:

José de Espronceda (1808-1842): Embodied the Romantic spirit in both his life and work. His poems, collected in “Poesías”, explore themes related to his adventurous spirit, including exalted and sorrowful love.
Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer (1836-1870): Known for his delicate and simple style, using numerous rhetorical figures. His works, “Rimas” and “Leyendas”, can be grouped into four themes: the essence of poetry, joyful love, hopeful love, and anguish, despair, and death.
Rosalía de Castro (1837-1885): A major figure of the Galician Renaissance, known for her simple and intimate style. She wrote in Galician (“Cantares gallegos” and “Follas novas”) and Castilian (“En las orillas del Sar”).

Romantic Drama:

Theater was a popular genre during the Romantic period. Romantic drama often disregarded classical rules, preferring gloomy settings and legendary or adventurous themes. New character types emerged, such as the solitary hero and the spiritually tormented heroine. The purpose of the drama was to move the audience and evoke strong emotions.

Key Dramatists:

Duque de Rivas (1791-1865): His political involvement led to exile in Paris, where he embraced Romantic ideas. His most acclaimed work is “Don Álvaro o la fuerza del sino.”
José Zorrilla (1817-1893): Famous for his play “Don Juan Tenorio,” which retells the story of the legendary Don Juan, a seducer who courts Doña Inés, a young woman, without scruples. This verse drama exemplifies the traits of Romantic drama: an impossible love with a tragic end, a gloomy atmosphere set in a distant time, elements of mystery, and characters who represent social and sentimental conflicts.

Realist and Naturalist Narrative

During the 19th century, Realism and Naturalism developed in opposition to the individualism and idealism of Romanticism.

Realism:

Realism emerged as a reaction against Romantic exaggeration and focused on social and political problems, highlighting the plight of the poor and the exploitation of the working class.

Basic Principles:

Literature as a reflection of life.
Writers should reproduce reality objectively.
Focus on psychological realism, describing the behavior of characters.
Depiction of social defects.
Sober style, avoiding ornamentation.

Naturalism:

Naturalism arose from the evolution of Realist thought and techniques. It viewed individuals as conditioned by their genetic inheritance and social environment.

The Novel:

The novel became the preferred form of expression for Realist and Naturalist writers.

Key Characteristics:

Objectivity: The author conducts a rigorous analysis of reality.
Characters: Novelists show great interest in the psychology of their characters.
Settings: Realistic novels provide detailed descriptions of environments. Naturalist novels often depict the most miserable settings.
Narrator: The omniscient narrator knows the thoughts of the characters.
Style and Language: The style is sober, avoiding ornamentation. Language reflects the social class of the characters.

Key Authors:

Juan Valera: A prolific writer across various genres, but primarily known for his novels. His style is characterized by its simplicity and the psychological study of characters. His most important work is “Pepita Jiménez.”
Benito Pérez Galdós: His extensive work can be classified into three periods: National Episodes (46 volumes of Spanish history), early novels (addressing political and religious issues and exploring the psychology of characters), and contemporary novels (approaching Naturalist themes, focusing on character development and detailed descriptions of environments).
Leopoldo Alas “Clarín”: His works are among the most important in Spanish literature. “La Regenta” provides a deep analysis of the city of Vetusta. He also wrote critical articles for various periodicals. In addition, he published 70 short stories, including “¡Adiós, Cordera!” and “La pipa de Kif.”
Emilia Pardo Bazán: A major proponent of Naturalism in Spain, largely due to her articles, including “La cuestión palpitante.” One of her preferred themes was the contrast between rural and urban life. Some of her most important works include “La tribuna” and “Los pazos de Ulloa.”