Generation of ’98: Literature, Renewal, and Existentialism in Spain

Posted on Oct 9, 2024 in Latin

1. The Generation of ’98

The “Generation of ’98,” a term coined by Azorín in 1913, refers to a group of Spanish writers who grappled with the nation’s decline following the Spanish-American War. These writers, including Azorín himself, Pío Baroja, Miguel de Unamuno, Ramiro de Maeztu, Antonio Machado, and Ramón del Valle-Inclán, sought solutions to transform Spain. Their characteristic features include:

  • A critical view of Spain
  • Natural language in the service of thought
  • Renovation of all literary genres

The social crisis of the early 20th century and the legacy of Romantic angst led them to experiment with new artistic and literary forms. They shifted from realistic observation to subjective and sometimes grotesque portrayals of life.

2. The Novel of the Generation of ’98

The writers of the Generation of ’98 experimented with all genres and contributed to the novel’s renewal in several ways:

  • Thematic Treatment: They explored their anxieties, fears, and conceptions of life and art.
  • Aesthetic Renovation of Language: Some, like Valle-Inclán, followed Modernism, employing impressionistic descriptions, nostalgic views of the past or exotic worlds, and idealized landscapes. This was a reaction against what they considered the “vulgar” realistic style. They used elaborate, intellectual language, sometimes with great sensitivity and precision, and often enhanced by provocative irony.
  • Narrative Techniques: They experimented with narrative perspectives, moving beyond the omniscient narrator common in the works of Benito Pérez Galdós.

3. Poetry of the Generation of ’98

Within the Modernist movement, poets like Unamuno and Machado embraced the spirit of ’98 in their work. This meant a sober literary style deeply engaged with Spanish reality. Their writing became more reflective, judgmental, and analytical. Their themes centered on a vision of Spain (addressing national problems) and their existential concerns, often expressed through the image of a “suffering” Castile.

4. Antonio Machado

Antonio Machado (1875-1939), born in Seville, is considered the principal poet of the Generation of ’98. He lived in Castile from the age of eight. After a prolific literary career, he left Spain at the end of the Civil War and died in France. His poetic creation was marked by various life events:

  • Soledades: After a trip to Paris where he met Rubén Darío, he published “Soledades” (1903), later reworked into “Soledades, Galerías, y Otros Poemas” (1907). This Modernist work foreshadowed his characteristic poetic forms and themes.
  • Campos de Castilla: His move to Soria as a teacher was crucial. He met his future wife, Leonor Izquierdo, who died there three years later at age 18. This period saw the creation of “Campos de Castilla” (1912), his major work.
  • Nuevas Canciones: In “Nuevas Canciones” (1917), he offered reflections in the form of proverbs, intimate poems about Leonor, and a new love, Guiomar. He revisited the Castilian landscape and, driven by his concern for Spain, began to develop social poetry.

Machado’s poetry explores essentialism and time. He sought to capture the nature of things (the world’s mystery and humanity) and express the passage of time. Recurring themes include destiny, love, landscape, self-discovery, death, dreams, and a vague concept of God. He used symbols like water, roads (representing life’s journey), and melancholy (later symbolizing nostalgia).

5. Miguel de Unamuno

Miguel de Unamuno (1864-1936), born in Bilbao, was a university professor and influential intellectual. A key figure in Spanish thought, he was also a controversial public figure, evolving from socialist views in his youth to supporting Republican ideals. Exiled from 1924 to 1930 by Primo de Rivera’s dictatorship, he returned to Spain after the regime’s fall. His sober and precise writing style reflects human existence as a permanent conflict between the desire for immortality, faith in God, and reason.

Unamuno cultivated all genres, including essays, plays, poetry, and novels. He experimented most in the novel, which he called “nivola.” He wrote novels of ideas, exploring the depths of human experience and expressing his ideological and existential concerns. His novels (“Niebla,” “Abel Sánchez,” “La Tía Tula,” “San Manuel Bueno, mártir”) explore themes like the search for identity, the conflict between creator and character, envy, frustrated motherhood, faith, and immortality. His novels typically have simple structures, sometimes blurring the lines between author and characters, and compensating for a lack of description with philosophical depth.