Clarín and Galdós: A Deep Dive into 19th-Century Spanish Literature
Clarín’s Narrative Work
Clarín cultivated criticism, essays, novels, and stories. His production was intended to be aesthetically and morally instructive to the reader. An educated man and a great connoisseur of European literature and philosophy, he analyzed and considered the contemporary novel, as well as theater and poetry. His narrative is a combination of different influences:
- Certain elements of naturalism.
- The religiosity of the spiritual currents of the late 19th century.
Clarín’s Fairy Tales
Clarín’s fairy tales are basically of two types:
- Those in which affection prevails.
- Those in which critical derision prevails.
La Regenta: Clarín’s Masterpiece
Clarín’s novel production consists of only two works: La Regenta and Su único hijo.
In La Regenta, Clarín addresses the conflict in the pursuit of ideal love in a mediocre and hostile environment. It is a story of a lack of love and friendship.
Themes and Characters in La Regenta
The story is built around a love triangle: two men, Don Fermín de Pas and the Don Juan, Álvaro Mesía, and a woman, Ana Ozores, the judge’s wife. Her nickname came from her husband, a regent, and she does not appear in the love triangle. The novel develops the theme of adultery. The narrative centers on Ana Ozores, Fermín de Pas, and Vetusta City (Oviedo), where hypocrisy, greed, immorality, and ignorance thrive. Literature is an important component of the work: Ana’s readings, poems, diary, etc.
Structure of La Regenta
La Regenta has a beginning in medias res and is structured in two parts, corresponding to an unequal amount of time.
- Part One: The first fifteen chapters of the novel take place over three days. In these, the characters are presented, and the physical, social, and religious environment of Vetusta is described.
- Part Two: The last fifteen chapters in the book include three years of history and develop the true storyline of the play: the struggle for Ana by Fermín, their separation, and the victory of Álvaro. The novel ends with Ana buried in her solitude, rejected by the city and Fermín.
Narrative Work of Benito Pérez Galdós
Galdós’s extensive literary production evolved, enriched by various inputs. As a novelist, he is known for creating characters and his ability to integrate the country’s history into the lives of these creations.
Episodios Nacionales
This is a collection of 46 stories divided into 5 series, each containing ten episodes, except for the last, which has six. They are short stories about the major events of 19th-century Spain, where the daily lives of fictional characters are also narrated.
Novels of the First Period
From Doña Perfecta onward, Galdós wrote thesis novels, which expose ideological conflicts and the anticlerical religious theme. The characters and plots are subject to copyright, and ideas fall into the Manichean dichotomy of good versus evil. These novels are dominated by the ideals of freedom, tolerance, and progress. The means used to present his thesis is the behavior and opinions of the characters.
Contemporary Novels
In these novels, Galdós invents a fictional world, reflecting the reality of the time, in which Madrid takes on a leading role. Through the neighborhoods of Madrid, the author offers his vision of Spain at the time. His realism is enhanced by the creation of more complex characters and incorporates naturalistic elements. At this time, Galdós develops several narrative techniques:
- Predominance of the omniscient narrator of the story.
- Dialogues that offer different perspectives on reality.
- Interior monologue, free indirect style, and theatrical style.
- Employment of humor, irony, and parody.
Spiritualist Novels
In these novels by Galdós, the gospel values of love and Christian charity prevail. These works reflect new social conditions and the fin de siècle crisis that involves a transformation of realism, coming to an end.
Latest Novels
In these last works, realism blends with the fantastic and amazing. They have points of contact with the end-of-the-century writers, who express confidence in education to transform the country.