19th Century Spanish Literary Realism: Context, Authors, and Works
Literary Realism in 19th Century Spain
Historical and Cultural Context
Political, Economic, and Social Aspects
Emerging progressive governments implemented labor and fiscal reforms. However, economic crises, unemployment, wars, and regional conflicts contributed to the downfall of the First Republic, ending a prolonged period of conflict. Economic development spurred urban growth and railway expansion. Bourgeois families enjoyed luxury while the masses remained marginalized from politics, modernization, and culture. Over time, trade unions developed.
Ideological and Cultural Aspects
Krausism, a rationalist philosophy emphasizing ethical individual behavior, the perfectibility of humanity, and societal education, became prominent. The Free Institution of Teaching, founded by Francisco Giner de los Rios, exemplified this. The Restoration period began with positivism, a system based on experimentation. Spanish positivists championed evolutionism and determinism. A surge in journalism fueled the debate surrounding naturalism.
Realism
Realism aimed to represent reality accurately and plausibly.
Origins and Evolution
Originating in France during the first half of the 19th century, realism flourished in Spain during the 1880s, manifesting in historical novels and costumbrista works.
Realism and Naturalism
Naturalism applied the scientific method to literature, analyzing human behavior as determined by historical context and biological inheritance. In Spain, naturalism incorporated free will and humor.
Characteristics of the Realist Novel
Detailed and Documented Descriptions
Observation and documentation served to reflect reality.
Language
Geographical, social, and local dialects reflected the diverse world being depicted. Galicianisms characterized the settings of Emilia Pardo Bazán, while Clarín and Valera used Andalusian dialects. Characters were also portrayed through their language.
Benito Pérez Galdós
National Episodes
Short stories depicting major historical events in 20th-century Spain.
Novels of the First Period
Works like Doña Perfecta and Marianela, considered thesis novels, explored ideological conflicts between religious and anti-clerical viewpoints.
Contemporary Novels
In novels like Fortunata and Jacinta, Galdós created a world reflecting contemporary reality, with Madrid playing a central role. He incorporated naturalist elements, such as biological and historical factors influencing character behavior.
Spiritual Novels
Works like Nazarín and Misericordia emphasized gospel values, love, and Christian charity.
Later Novels
Galdós’s later works, such as The Reason of Insanity, blended realism with fantastical elements.
José María de Pereda and Juan Valera
Pereda
Pereda cultivated regionalist realism, portraying his native Santander as a patriarchal world of purity and tradition. His costumbrista works, like Sotileza and Peñas Arriba, depicted landscapes and local characters, extolling traditional Catholic values and presenting an idyllic view of rural life.
Valera
Valera’s novels prioritized beauty and reader enjoyment, often focusing on love and relationships. His works, such as Pepita Jiménez, presented an idealized, harmonious Andalusia, devoid of poverty and suffering.
Leopoldo Alas “Clarín”
Clarín excelled in criticism, essays, novels, and short stories. His narrative incorporated naturalist elements, such as observation and the interplay between physiology and psychology, alongside religious themes.
Short Stories
Clarín’s short stories, like “¡Adiós, Cordera!”, ranged from vital and tender portrayals to satirical caricatures and critical derision.
Novels
La Regenta explored the conflict between the pursuit of ideal love and a mediocre, hostile environment, addressing themes of adultery. His other novel is Su único hijo.
Emilia Pardo Bazán and Vicente Blasco Ibáñez
Pardo Bazán
Pardo Bazán’s narrative incorporated naturalist elements, including detailed descriptions and the influence of violence and harshness. Los Pazos de Ulloa depicted 19th-century rural Galicia as a world of ignorance, violence, and cruelty.
Blasco Ibáñez
Blasco Ibáñez’s regional novels featured naturalism through social and biological determinism shaping characters’ fates, often in sordid and brutal settings. Notable works include Arroz y tartana and La Barraca.