18th-Century Spanish Prose and Theater: A Neoclassical Overview
18th-Century Spanish Prose
During the 17th century, creative prose declined while essays gained prominence. This shift reflects the didactic nature of the era’s literature, aiming for widespread education. In the 18th century, journalism flourished as a means of disseminating ideas, prioritizing education and information over mere news reporting.
Key Essayists
Feijoo
In Teatro crítico universal and Cartas eruditas y curiosas, Feijoo addressed diverse topics, from politics and folklore to literature and astrology. He championed truth, combating superstitions and addressing Spain’s lag behind Europe. His passionate defense of ideas sparked controversy, though his avoidance of challenging Church doctrine spared him Inquisition.
Jovellanos
Beyond El Delincuente Honrado, a satire on pseudo-intellectuals, and La Noche Oscura, a precursor to Romantic novels, Jovellanos’ key work is Cartas del Moro. This epistolary format, popular in the 18th century, facilitated critiques of customs and ideas. Jovellanos epitomizes the Spanish Enlightenment. His technical works, like Informe sobre la Ley Agraria, advocating for the abolition of privileges and land reform, and Memoria para el arreglo de la policía de los espectáculos, critiquing 17th-century theater and urging government intervention, showcase his progressive views. His diaries offer unique lyrical descriptions of Spanish landscapes.
18th-Century Spanish Theater
Neoclassicism significantly influenced 18th-century theater, emphasizing both aesthetics and ethics. Formally, it adhered to the three unities: time (within 24 hours), place (single setting), and action (presentation, climax, resolution). Theater aimed to reform society, teaching moral lessons from the stage. However, these rigid rules hindered the creation of truly great works and limited popular appeal.
Neoclassical Theater
Writers, mainly in Madrid, embraced classical precepts, creating theater aligned with the political and moral interests of the Enlightenment. Leandro Fernández de Moratín stands out, creating comedies that ridiculed societal vices. His plays, including El Viejo y la Niña and El Sí de las Niñas, championed women’s right to choose their husbands. El Sí de las Niñas, his most famous work, criticizes convent education and marriages for money, promoting freedom and sincerity. La Mojigata satirizes hypocrisy and false piety. La Comedia Nueva mocks playwrights who disregard classical rules.
Beyond Neoclassicism
More popular than neoclassical theater were sainetes, short, comedic plays reminiscent of Golden Age theater. Set in Madrid, they featured authentic characters like the manolo, the gracioso, deceived husbands, workers, and noblemen. Ramón de la Cruz, the most representative writer, penned over 400 sainetes, including La Pradera de San Isidro, El Manolo, and El Rastro por la Mañana, portraying Madrid street life without deep character development or social critique. Finally, Vicente García de la Huerta cultivated tragedy, notably Raquel.