Benito Pérez Galdós and the Realist Novel in 19th Century Spain
Item 3. The Realist Novel: Benito Pérez Galdós
1. Introduction
1.1. Historical Context
The nineteenth century was a time of deep transformations in all aspects. The French Revolution provoked a profound crisis in society and politics. Stratified society gave way to a class society, with the bourgeoisie taking part in power. Population growth was also a major issue, as large concentrations in industrialized cities provoked clashes between the bourgeois and the proletariat. A rational crisis occurred, leading to a new concept of culture and new ways of thinking. Kant died, and philosophy shifted toward the idealistic theory of Hegel. Great scientific progress was made in Physics, Medicine, and Biology (Darwin). In the second half of the century, social sciences like psychology and sociology had great influence on literature. In literature, three major movements emerged in 19th century Spain and Europe: Romanticism, Realism, and Naturalism.
1.2. Literary Division: Photography Subjects
It is divided into two parts: Romanticism and Realism/Naturalism. Are Realism and Naturalism two movements that talk about similar things, or two movements that occurred at the same time? It is probably one movement that talks about two different things. One speaks of morals and a society of middle and upper classes (Realism), and the other (Naturalism) speaks of the customs of the middle and lower classes. It could be a movement that speaks of two issues; one part (Realism) would reflect the higher clergy, the upper classes, aristocracy, and bourgeoisie, while Naturalism would reflect the environments, customs, and glossaries of workers, the marginalized underclass, and suburbs—any type of lower class.
1.3. Sociocultural Aspects
The most important sociocultural factor was the economic and social advancement of the bourgeoisie; society no longer moved as a matter of blood. Literature reflected these issues because it was required, bought, and successful. There were no escapes or fantasies. The figure of the editor was born, who would be the intermediary between the author and the patron. Cultural aspects: Literature reflected the development of science, where there were many advances. The idealistic conception of the 18th century began to disappear, making way for positivism, created by Compte. Important figures in the scientific field included Mendel and Darwin.
1.4. Steps from Romanticism to Realism and Naturalism
- Shift from hereditary economic hierarchy.
- Shift from idealist philosophy to positivist philosophy.
- Shift from fanciful or idyllic places to places that reflect reality.
- Shift from a language with many punctuation marks to poetic decorum.
- Shift from a literature of personal feelings to a literature focused on character painting, with a subjective character.
- Shift from painting of manners to social psychology and multiple characters.
- Transition from radical, marginal literature to a literature with moral intent.
2. The Realistic Novel
The realist novel was the most useful and faithful implementation of the whole mentality and ideology. Its purpose was the representation, in a detailed and objective way, of everyday life and the subjects and problems of this new society.
2.1. Features
- Plausibility: Everything has to be objective and credible.
- Documentation.
- Poetic decorum.
- Presence of individual characters related to the world in which they live, or collective characters. Two types of novels: psychological novels and sociological novels.
- Omniscient narrator: The narrator knows all about the protagonists.
- Moral intention, social didacticism: The writer has a dual reality with moral intention, one for teaching and one for moralizing. Dual approach, one objective and one subjective. The objective is of a traditionalist and conservative nature, while the subjective is of a more progressive and innovative nature.
- Simple, sober, straightforward, and clear style: Although the style is poetic decorum, it is precise, clear, and uses accurate language. Rhetoric disappears to give way to simple, sober, and carefully crafted prose.
- Detailed descriptions of spaces, characters, and places.
2.2. Types
Two types: Novel of manners: Description of a small area, which ensured that it did not have much success beyond the places where it was published. In these novels with this traditional approach, the rural world is idealized against the evils of modern life in the city. Local lexicon and focused. Contemporary novel: Speaks of more general and progressive ideas. It presents the dichotomy between countryside and city, with the city being a place of progress and the country a place of backwardness and ignorance.
2.3. Authors
Europe: Flaubert, Stendhal, Victor Hugo, Charles Dickens, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Leo Tolstoy.
Spanish: Writers of transition between Realism and Naturalism. Novelist transition: Fernán Caballero, author of The Seagull. Pereda, Punishment Above. Juan Valera, Pepita Jiménez, Juanita la Larga. Clarín, Newspaper Articles, Goodbye Cordera!, The Judge’s Wife. Naturalist Writers: Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, Reeds and Mud, La Barraca, Blood and Sand. Emilia Pardo Bazán.
3. Benito Pérez Galdós
3.1. Life
From a young age, Galdós liked writing. At 19, he went to Madrid and studied law but did not finish. He attended literary circles and dedicated himself to journalism and politics. At 23, he went to Paris. He went further in politics and was close to socialism. He was a deputy in Cuba. His political thinking was reflected in his works. This earned him a delay in entering the Royal Spanish Academy. From the 1890s, his thinking began to change, becoming more spiritual and idealistic.
3.2. Work
In general, his works are written in prose, including his theater. He was a very fertile author. He wrote 15 books and articles, 24 plays (many of which were versions of his own novels), and 77 novels, which can be subdivided. 1. National Events: 46 novels. 2. Thesis Novels: Contemporary and spiritual maturity. Theater: He adapted many of his plays to novels. Electra caused controversy for being anti-clerical. Novels: National Events. 46 novels divided into groups of ten, some of which are unfinished. In this new form of literary novel, there are characters who live with real people. The Spanish town becomes a collective character. The episodes begin with the Battle of Trafalgar and continue to the Bourbon Restoration. He created the modern historical novel. Another important aspect is that people connected with these works. People felt identified.
1. Galdós’ novels provided a momentary economic salvation. He published several novels, including The Golden Fountain. These novels reflect his anti-clerical thoughts.
2. Contemporary Novels: These are the best known, the most important, and perhaps the best. There are novels that are not only realist, but also naturalist. They talk about the nobles, the middle class, and the lower classes. The language gradually incorporates more popular character traits: La de Bringas, Fortunata and Jacinta, Miau. From Angel Guerra onward, his novels will become more and more idealistic, caring more about the spiritual and less about the material. This section includes well-known novels such as Nazarín, Grandfather, Mercy. One of his great masterpieces presents the character of Benina, the grandmother, caring for the poor, embodying the virtue of charity. In this last stage, Galdós uses symbolism to defend Regenerationism. Spain will hit rock bottom. In these works, he is concerned about the mentality of the era and the economic situation.