19th Century Spanish Literature: Romanticism & Realism
19th Century Spanish Literature: Romanticism and Realism
Romanticism in Spain
Cultural and political movements arose in Europe after the Enlightenment, challenging the established order. Romanticism, a movement based on fantasy, imagination, and feelings, emerged as a reaction against the rationalism of the Enlightenment. Within Romanticism, two main currents can be differentiated: the traditional and patriotic, which exalts the religious; and the liberal and humanist. Spanish Romanticism arrived late due to the policies of Fernando VII.
Among the most prominent authors are the playwright Duque de Rivas and the poet and prose writer Mariano José de Larra. Later, two of the greatest Romantic authors appeared: Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer and Rosalía de Castro.
Theater
Romantic theater broke the rules of classical theater, featuring open actions, a mix of comedy and tragedy, the coexistence of prose and verse fragments, and a five-act structure. The most represented themes were legendary, historical, or chivalrous, with elaborate scenography designed to impress the viewer.
Duque de Rivas (Ángel Saavedra), exiled from Córdoba due to the politics of Fernando VII, developed a dramatic and Romantic style, full of excesses that broke with classical rules. His most important work is Don Álvaro o la fuerza del sino. Its success embodied the first totally groundbreaking conception of theater, whose excesses resonated with a public tired of the previous limitations.
Don Álvaro combines prose and verse, mixes action, and features over 50 characters, with plenty of duels, sudden shifts in the action, thunder, emotional upheavals, and shocks. Rivas became the most glorious and influential author of Spanish Romanticism.
Romantic Poetry
Romantic poetry is based on inspiration and the expression of feelings. It is characterized by a lyrical outburst of taste, exploring themes like the sordidness of death. The settings are intimate, adventurous, or nocturnal and gloomy. The most relevant authors of this style are José de Espronceda and Rosalía de Castro.
José de Espronceda was a member of the secret society “Los Numantinos.” He studied in Madrid, was exiled by Fernando VII, and upon his return, held political office. His work El estudiante de Salamanca stands out, with verses of almost 2000 songs and 4,000 lines, narrating the crimes and impieties of the protagonist who abandons his beloved and causes the death of a young woman due to sadness. His other great work is El diablo mundo, a social and character-driven poem composed of seven songs, in which Teresa’s singing stands out. He is also well known for his poems dedicated to marginalized characters in society, such as La canción del pirata or La canción del mendigo. Espronceda is considered the most renowned Romantic poet and playwright.
Bécquer is considered a late Romantic, as he wrote when Romanticism was already fading. He was Sevillian, orphaned at a young age, and moved to Madrid with his brother, facing significant economic difficulties. He died at the age of 34 from syphilis. His literary style is characterized by a Romantic and intimate feeling, with a popular tone and great musicality. His prose works are Leyendas and Cartas desde mi celda, written during his stay at the monastery of Veruela. In verse, Rimas stands out. Bécquer, although late, is considered the most genuine Spanish Romantic poet and is highly regarded in contemporary poetry, along with the Generation of ’27.
Realism
Realism is the literary trend that follows Romanticism and opposes its excesses and emotional exaltation. It develops mainly in prose, and its main feature is the search for the exact representation of reality, nature, and society, stripping literature of artificial and distorting elements. It builds upon the tradition of manners but leaves behind its idealized elements, portraying reality with rigor and a critical perspective. Although it aims for objectivity, the analysis of social reality will lead to high levels of realistic complaint and a critical stance towards what is observed and narrated.
The greatest exponent of Spanish realism is Benito Pérez Galdós.
Benito Pérez Galdós was Canarian, patriotic, liberal, and anticlerical. His concern for social problems led him to socialist positions. His literary style emphasizes precision and documentation, along with great expressiveness, agility, and distinctive features in his prose. His most important works are the Episodios Nacionales (a series of 46 historical novels), Doña Perfecta (about the dangers of traditionalism and religious fanaticism in Spain), and Fortunata y Jacinta (describing and criticizing the social situation in 19th century Madrid). Galdós’s work is classified as a “total novel.”
Costumbrismo
Costumbrismo is a 19th-century literary current with Romantic characteristics that appeared in newspapers and magazines. It is written in prose and depicts the “customs” (hence the name) and typicalities of society. The most representative authors of this trend are Larra (pseudonym: Figaro), with articles and descriptive pictures in the magazine El Pobrecito Hablador and Cartas Españolas; Fernán Caballero (pseudonym of Cecilia Böhl de Faber), with her novels of manners; and Pereda and Alarcón.
Costumbrismo can also be considered prose Romanticism, but it will be the precursor of Realism.
Mariano José de Larra was from Madrid and had a very hectic life. He emigrated to France for political reasons (he was a liberal) and, after separating from his wife, committed suicide at the age of 28. Larra wrote under the pseudonym of Figaro to protect himself from political repression and published numerous articles in newspapers. His style is critical, patriotic, and satirical. He pointed out with irony the backwardness and defects of the society in which he lived, but he observed it from the pain of someone who wanted it to be different. His most important articles are “Casarse pronto y mal,” about his own experience; “Vuelva usted mañana,” criticizing bureaucratic functioning; and “El castellano viejo,” a critique of traditionalism. Larra is considered a benchmark for his sharp, critical, and independent journalism. The strength of many of his comments on Spanish society is sadly still relevant today.