19th-Century Realism and Naturalism in Spanish Literature
19th-Century Realism and Naturalism
Realism
The 19th-century Realism movement championed the accurate and truthful depiction of reality. Its key features include reflecting reality as it is, employing investigative techniques, and using the novel as a primary medium. Realism often contextualizes the work within contemporary society, utilizes an objective point of view, presents believable character actions, and critiques the prevailing social situation.
Naturalism
Naturalism, an evolution of Realism influenced by positivism, asserts that humans are determined by biological and social laws, historical context, and thus lack free will. Naturalistic literature portrays everyday events, analyzes reality (especially its unpleasant aspects), seeks solutions to problems, and incorporates scientific concepts to study humanity.
Realistic Fiction: Key Features
- Realistic characters from everyday life, with an emphasis on women.
- Credible storytelling.
- Themes reflecting societal conflicts of the time.
- Detailed descriptions of documented spaces and time.
- Use of in medias res, where the story begins in the middle of the action.
- Dialogue highlighting social, economic, and belief systems.
- First or third-person narration.
Benito Pérez Galdós
Galdós’s work features social criticism, political analysis, and liberal ideas. He emphasizes character thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors. His style includes detailed environments, documented settings, agile language, humor, irony, and spontaneity.
Key Works
- National Episodes (1873-1912): Covering various periods of Spanish history.
- Novels: First Period (e.g., Doña Perfecta, Marianela), Contemporary (e.g., The Disinherited, Torment, Fortunata and Jacinta), and Spiritualist (e.g., Nazarín, Mercy, Grandfather).
Fortunata and Jacinta employs an omniscient narrator, characterizes through dialogue, and explores social class differences.
Clarín (La Regenta)
La Regenta explores themes of adultery and the protagonist’s internal conflict between spirituality and carnality. Key characters include Ana Ozores (the Regent), Don Fermín, and Don Álvaro. Clarín’s naturalistic style examines societal influence, utilizes precise language and descriptions, and incorporates interior monologue and free indirect style.
Introduction to Modernism
Modernism emerged from the crisis of the 19th-century bourgeois liberal model. Political and economic turmoil, including the Franco-Prussian War and the Paris Commune, led to a shift from rationalism to irrationalism (Nietzsche), and from positivism to pessimism and elitism. This is reflected in the bohemian lifestyle depicted in Modernist works.
Influences of Modernism
- Parnassianism: Art for art’s sake; formal perfection; preference for musical and sensory poetry; classical mythology.
- Symbolism: Focus on hidden realities and symbols; less rigid rhythms than Parnassianism; psychological exploration.
- Other Influences: Pre-Raphaelitism, Nietzsche’s philosophy, and Spanish mysticism.