20th Century: Wars, Philosophy, and Literature
The 20th Century
Cultural Context
To understand the 20th century, we must consider 1898, when Spain was defeated by the U.S., losing Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. This marked the end of Spain’s empire and led to a deep national crisis. Philosophy and literature became fundamental in the early 20th century.
Two major historical events shaped the century: World War I (1914) and World War II (1939). Spain remained neutral in both but experienced a civil war (1936-1939), resulting in a dictatorship under General Francisco Franco. Other totalitarian regimes emerged in Europe, such as those of Adolf Hitler in Germany and Benito Mussolini in Italy.
World War II was the most devastating conflict in history, pitting the Allies (led by France and Britain) against the Axis powers (led by Germany and Italy). Causes included German and Japanese imperialism, totalitarian ideologies, militarism, and the aftermath of the 1929 crisis. The war resulted in 55 million deaths, 70 million wounded, and shattered economies.
After the war, countries began economic recovery and formed the United Nations (UN) to prevent future conflicts and defend peace and human rights. The world remained divided into ideological blocks: the capitalist bloc led by the USA and the communist bloc led by the USSR, leading to the Cold War.
In Spain, the Franco dictatorship ended with his death in 1975, beginning the political transition to democracy. The 20th century saw various artistic movements, including Impressionism, Modernism, and the Avant-garde.
20th Century Literature
Understanding 20th-century literature requires acknowledging the influence of philosophy. Thinkers like Nietzsche, Schopenhauer, and Kierkegaard significantly impacted early 20th-century authors, and their theories are a constant presence in later literature.
Since the Middle Ages, society’s ideological evolution has been discussed. The medieval theocentric view shifted with the Renaissance, placing man at the center of the universe. Until the 16th century, literature and philosophy were intertwined, but they then separated. Philosophical currents radicalized through rationalism and positivism, leading to existentialism in the 20th century.
Existentialism explores the human condition: the meaning of life, death, time, and freedom. The fear of death, always present, became more pronounced. Many literary characters reflect this fear, and the ontological aspects of death are discussed in the psychology of complex characters. The anguish caused by these issues is reflected in literature. The 20th-century man is often portrayed as a nihilist and pragmatist, having lost faith in himself, life, and God.
The two world wars contributed to this, exposing humanity to barbarity and leaving many questions unanswered. Existentialism attempts to address these questions. Writers of this time openly expressed agnosticism, atheism, or anti-theism, although some retained their faith. 20th-century literature is complex, with rapid shifts between literary movements. Many realist writers continued to publish works during the first third of the century. All literary genres were cultivated, but the novel became the primary vehicle for expressing ideas.