Generation of ’98: Spain’s Literary Response to Crisis
Generation of ’98
A literary generation is a group of writers who, born around the same time and moved by a significant historical event, face similar problems and react to them in similar ways. The Generation of ’98 is defined by:
- Key Figures: Miguel de Unamuno, Ramón María del Valle-Inclán, Pío Baroja, Azorín, and Antonio Machado, all born between 1864 and 1875.
- Motivating Event: The Spanish decline and the Disaster of 1898.
- Shared Concerns: The regrettable image of a Spain fallen into apathy and disinterest. They analyzed Spain’s ills and proposed solutions.
Antonio Machado (1875-1939)
Born in Seville, Machado moved to Madrid with his family. He taught French in Soria, Baeza, Segovia, and Madrid. While in Soria, he married Leonor Izquierdo. A scholarship took him to Paris, but he returned due to his wife’s illness. Her death deeply impacted him. During the Spanish Civil War, his liberal and republican spirit led him to support the people’s cause. He died in Collioure, France, in 1939. Machado’s poetry revolves around:
- His inner world: Memories, longings, dreams, and the passage of time.
- The landscapes and people of Castile and Andalusia.
- A critical view of Spain’s national reality.
- The love for his wife, offering solace from solitude, a solace lost upon her death.
His works include Solitudes, Loneliness, Galleries, and poems with modernist features. Campos de Castilla reflects the strong influence of the Generation of ’98.
Ramón María del Valle-Inclán (1866-1935)
Born in Villanueva de Arosa (Pontevedra), Valle-Inclán died in Santiago de Compostela. After time in Mexico, he lived primarily in Madrid. While part of the Generation of ’98, his focus was primarily aesthetic. He wrote across genres but excelled in novels and drama, showcasing a masterful command of language. His style evolved through two phases:
- First Phase: Refined and exquisite prose, full of musicality and sensory details.
- Second Phase: Pessimistic view of reality expressed through grotesque characters and distorted scenarios, creating the “esperpento” genre.
Pío Baroja (1872-1956)
Born in San Sebastián, Baroja abandoned medicine for literature. His works reflect a bitter and pessimistic vision of Spain, tempered by humor and occasional tenderness. He criticized Spanish vices with a reformist intent. Baroja primarily wrote novels and short stories, including The House of Aizgorri and Zalacaín the Adventurer. His style is vigorous, dynamic, and expressive, prioritizing simplicity over strict grammatical rules.
Azorín (1873-1967)
Born in Monóvar (Alicante), Azorín dedicated his life to journalism and literature in Madrid. He focused on Castile: its people, landscapes, and historical and literary past. His unique style emphasizes descriptive detail, using an impressionistic technique to capture the essence of reality. His prose is characterized by elegant simplicity, short sentences, and rich vocabulary.
Miguel de Unamuno (1864-1936)
Born in Bilbao, Unamuno studied philosophy and literature in Madrid and taught at the University of Salamanca. Exiled to Fuerteventura for opposing Primo de Rivera’s dictatorship, he returned to Salamanca, where he died. Unamuno’s work is filled with philosophical concerns, exploring themes of death, the desire for eternal life, religious struggles, and the search for God. His style is direct, robust, and precise, reflecting his passionate tone and complex inner world. He wrote novels like San Manuel Bueno, Martyr and Mist, poetry collections like Cancionero, essays, articles, short stories, and plays like Soledad.