18th Century Spanish Literature: Enlightenment & Theater
The Eighteenth Century in Spain
Historical Events and Dynastic Changes
The 18th century saw significant historical events, including changes in reigning dynasties with the death of Charles II and the ascension of Philip V. Developments in European intellectual currents directly influenced the establishment of the Bourbon dynasty in Spain.
Efforts were made to address political, economic, and cultural decay. Key monarchs of this era included:
- Philip V: Implemented reforms to unify administrations, established the National Library, the Royal Spanish Academy, and the Royal Academy of History.
- Fernando VI: Created specialized centers for mathematics, physics, metallurgy, and cartography. He also sponsored young scholars to study abroad.
- Carlos III: Supported scientists. However, the entry of Napoleon’s troops in 1808 and its aftermath disrupted this progress.
Socio-Economic Background
Two crucial factors shaped the socio-economic landscape: the rise of agriculture and population increase.
Stages of the Enlightenment
The Spanish Enlightenment is divided into stages:
- Early Enlightenment: Encompasses the reformist criticism of the novatores and begins with the publication of Father Feijoo’s Universal Critical Theater.
- Full Enlightenment: Concurrent with the reign of Charles III, marked by a larger and more vibrant social movement influenced by earlier Enlightenment ideals.
- Declining Enlightenment: Coincides with the reign of Charles IV, during which the most representative authors emerged.
Enlightenment Thought and Dissemination
Reformist Enlightenment ideas needed to permeate all social strata, which was achieved through various means:
- Education Reforms: Implemented in classrooms.
- Development of Journalism: The periodical press was born.
- Transformation of Gatherings: Social gatherings evolved into study and research academies and societies dedicated to promoting the economy and training farmers.
- Private Academies: The literary coterie of the Fonda de San Sebastian became a core of neoclassical ideas.
- Literature as a Tool: Used for processing everyday life.
- Standardization of Language: Spanish replaced Latin as the official language in universities.
- Royal Spanish Academy: Formally established in 1713, with its first project being the creation of a language dictionary.
The Illustrated Lyric
Poetry of the Second Half of the Eighteenth Century
Juan Meléndez Valdés is a significant figure.
- Rococo and Anacreontic Poetry: Celebrated a pleasant and carefree life.
- Pastoral Compositions: Focused on inner feelings.
- Moral and Philosophical Poetry: Reflected the poet’s concerns.
Poetic Modalities
- Illustrated Poetry: Manuel José Leal
- Rococo Poetry: Juan Meléndez Valdés
- Didactic Poetry: Tomás de Iriarte and Félix María de Samaniego
- Satirical Poems: Nicolás Fernández de Moratinos
Poetry of the Late Eighteenth Century
The lack of human emotion in lyric poetry led to a search for new poetic paths. This gave rise to a pre-Romantic movement, germinating in two schools:
- Salamanca School: Poets separated by age and ideology from Meléndez Valdés and his group (Nicasio Álvarez Cienfuegos, Manuel José Quintana, Juan Nicasio Gallego).
- Seville School: A group of writers associated with the humanities academy (José María Blanco, Alberto Lista).
Theater of the 18th Century
Neoclassical Theater
Spanish dramatists followed French models, emphasizing:
- Credibility of actions
- Adherence to the three unities (action, place, time within 24 hours)
- Moral and teaching approach
Three subgenres were cultivated:
- Tragedy: Spanish playwrights used hendecasyllable verse and strictly adhered to neoclassical rules.
- Comedy: Addressed concerns about compliance with neoclassical movement, but never achieved widespread success.
- Tearful Sentimental Drama or Comedy: Originating from France, aimed to evoke tenderness and compassion in the viewer (e.g., Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos’s “The Honest Offender”).
Popular Theater
Popular forms of theater emerged as a national response to French influence. The mini-play, a comic and popular farce, became a vehicle for transmitting social realism in Spain. Ramón de la Cruz excelled in this area.