Benito Pérez Galdós and Leopoldo Alas Clarín: Spanish Literary Realism
Benito Pérez Galdós (1843-1920)
Benito Pérez Galdós (1843-1920) represents the pinnacle of realism in Spanish literature. He was one of the most fertile writers of the time, producing over 80 novels, 24 plays, and numerous articles and essays. The enduring interest in his work lies in his ability to paint a panorama of contemporary society and to historicize recent events.
Life
Born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Galdós arrived in Madrid at age 18 to study law. He abandoned his studies to devote himself to writing. His liberal and republican ideals hindered his career as a writer. Despite his merits, he was not elected to the Royal Spanish Academy until 1894, and in 1905, political enemies boycotted his candidacy for the Nobel Prize. In his last years, he went blind and suffered financial difficulties.
Work
Galdós’s work is extensive and covers almost all genres, including theater, essays, and especially novels. His narrative work can be divided into three stages:
- Thesis Novels: (e.g., Doña Perfecta, 1876)
- Contemporary Novels: (e.g., Fortunata and Jacinta, 1887)
- Spiritualist Novels: Reflecting the influence of late-century spiritualism (e.g., Mercy, 1897)
The National Episodes
The National Episodes comprise 46 novels that chronicle recent Spanish history. They are grouped into five series, each containing ten works, except for the last, which has six. These novels constitute a chronicle of the conflicts that marked Spain’s history from the Battle of Trafalgar (1805) to the Restoration (1875). The first two series, written between 1873 and 1879, cover the War of Independence to the death of Ferdinand VII. The first series features Gabriel Araceli as the protagonist, while the second focuses on the brothers Salvador and Carlos Monsalud, representing absolutists and liberals in conflict. Later series cover the Carlist Wars and express a critical attitude towards Spanish intolerance. The National Episodes surpass the romantic historical novel by narrating recent events, helping readers better understand the Spain of the time.
The Novels of the First Era
In the 1870s, Galdós wrote thesis novels that criticized intolerance and fanaticism. He developed this critique by introducing conflicts between two worlds: the traditional, religious, and sectarian world, and the liberal, progressive, and modern world (e.g., Doña Perfecta, 1876; Gloria, 1877).
The Contemporary Spanish Novel
The 24 novels published from 1881 to 1889, known as the Contemporary Spanish Novels, describe Galdós’s contemporary society. He abandons ideological defense and offers a more unbiased sample, avoiding the division of characters into good and bad. Instead, he portrays them in a deep and complete manner. The Disinherited (1881) reflects the influence of Naturalism. In the 1890s, he wrote novels that show his interest in spiritual and moral issues without abandoning the detailed observation of reality, such as Nazarín (1895) and Mercy (1897).
Significance of His Work
Galdós meticulously described Madrid society, capturing different social classes and types, from the marginalized to the aristocrats. His total vision of the contemporary history of Spain is valued. Galdós believed that Spain was divided into two sides, the traditionalist and the progressive, and that it could only be saved through tolerance and harmony between them.
Leopoldo Alas Clarín (1852-1901)
Leopoldo Alas, known as Clarín (1852-1901), was a severe literary critic and a writer of short stories. His novel, La Regenta, is a crucial work of Naturalism, recreating the provincial society of Vetusta (Oviedo).
The Author
Born in Zamora, Clarín felt Asturian due to his family origins. He spent most of his life in Oviedo. In 1871, he moved to Madrid and began writing under the pseudonym Clarín. His liberal and republican ideas made him very critical of traditional Catholicism and sensitive to social injustice. He wrote numerous critiques and left behind a high-quality narrative work.
Work
As a critic, Clarín wrote about many subjects and was both feared and respected. As a storyteller, he was a great writer of short stories and novellas, some of which are among the best written in the 19th century. These works showcase his critical sensibility and concern for the human situation. He only wrote two lengthy novels: His Only Son (1890) and La Regenta (1885). La Regenta tells the story of Ana Ozores, who is married to the regent Don Victor Quintanar. Ana’s emotional and physical dissatisfaction leads her to waver between her confessor and an experienced seducer. Ultimately, Ana is abandoned by all.
Key aspects of La Regenta include:
- The psychology of the characters (especially the portraits of Ana Ozores and Fermín de Pas)
- The exhaustive description of the city of Vetusta (which represents the society of Restoration Spain)
- The perfect structure and narrative technique (which bring the novel closer to modern aesthetics)