19th Century Spanish Literature: Romanticism & Realism
Romantic Prose
Romantic prose includes historical novels and legends, such as those by Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer. Costumbristas newspaper articles reflect the living habits of the time.
Jose Mariano Larra (1809-1837)
Life: A defender of freedom, Larra participated in the political life of the time on the liberal side. He had a turbulent love affair with a married woman and committed suicide at 28, disillusioned by society and his personal life.
Work: His most important work was journalistic. He was a great writer whose articles can be classified by their literary themes:
- Traditionalist
- Political
- Literary
He was always very critical of the Spain of his era, which he considered outdated and without hope of change. His articles are characterized by a humorous but bitter tone. He mixed genres, such as poems with narrative elements and even theatrical elements.
Libertad
This work showcases Larra’s creativity. It uses polarimetry (stanzas of different verse types) and mixed rhymes (assonant and consonant).
Romantic Theatre
Romantic theatre created a new theatrical form, the romantic drama.
Topics
- Love above all barriers
- Fate and destiny
Characters
- Male: Often demonic figures who proclaim their freedom above all laws.
- Female: Angelic saviors.
Landscapes
Typically romantic landscapes are used. The traditional three-act structure is broken, and plays are divided into five acts. The tragic and the comic are mixed. Polarimetry and mixed verse and prose are used. In short, creative freedom is paramount.
Jose de Zorrilla: Life and Work – Don Juan Tenorio
Although born in Valladolid, Zorrilla excelled as a playwright. He also cultivated other genres, such as lyrics and legends, and enjoyed great success in his time.
Argument of Don Juan Tenorio
(Insert a summary of the plot here)
Realism
Society and Culture
Socio-political changes: The first half of the 19th century saw alliances and changes.
Society: New social classes consolidated: the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.
Politics: Clashes between liberals and conservatives continued, and bourgeois revolutions occurred.
Culture: Positivism influenced art. The foundations of modern science were laid, and new sciences like psychology appeared.
Positivism: A way of thinking that seeks rational explanations for all things and believes that knowledge can only be reached through observation and experimentation.
Realism in Literature
Realism was a literary and artistic movement of the second half of the 19th century. It was characterized by its eagerness to reflect reality and portray the society of its time with a critical intention.
Features of Realism
- Literary Genre: The novel was the genre best suited to portray society (environments, characters).
- Narrator: Typically a third-person omniscient narrator who knows everything, including the characters’ thoughts.
- Characters: Primarily from the bourgeoisie, the most important class of the time.
- Setting: Novels are set in cities and urban environments, reflecting contemporary life.
- Plot: Believable stories, often with elements of love and social issues, serialized in installments.
- Style: Frequent descriptions of characters and environments, sober language imitating the language of the time, and a critical intention.
Benito Perez Galdos (1843-1920)
Life: Born in Las Palmas, Canary Islands, but developed his literary career in Madrid. He worked in journalism and literature and participated in political life, supporting the liberal party. His progressive ideas are reflected in his work. In his later years, he suffered hardship but was recognized by young writers. Today, he is a well-known author.
Artwork: His primary genre was the novel. His novels can be classified into three groups:
- Thesis Novels: Stories where Galdós defends modern ideas of culture and reason against fanaticism and intolerance. These novels focus on the clash between progressive and traditional ideas, and Galdós’ opinions are evident (e.g., Doña Perfecta).
- Contemporary Novels: Stories set in Madrid that reproduce the society of the time. These are more mature novels where social criticism is less clear (e.g., Fortunata y Jacinta).
- National Episodes: Novels set during the most relevant historical events of the 19th century, such as the War of Independence and the reign of Ferdinand VII. Galdós used history to learn more about the society of his time and combined fiction with reality.
Leopoldo Alas, “Clarín”
Life: Born in Zamora but lived in Oviedo, which he describes in his work. He dedicated himself to journalism and literature, signing his work with the pseudonym “Clarín.”
Artwork: He wrote novels and short stories, but his key work is La Regenta. Set in Oviedo, it is a portrait of the city and its surroundings. It is a realist novel that criticizes the lack of ethics, hypocrisy of bourgeois society, ambition, and the clergy.