Generation of ’98: Spanish Literary Movement

Posted on Sep 26, 2024 in History

Generation of ’98

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Generation of ’98 is the name traditionally given to a group of Spanish writers, essayists, and poets who were profoundly affected by the moral, political, and social crisis in Spain caused by the Spanish-American War and the subsequent loss of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines in 1898. The authors and poets associated with this generation were born between 1864 and 1876.

Inspiration and Early Influences

Inspired by the critical current of Canovas regenerationism, the Generation of ’98 offered a holistic artistic vision, blending classic and modern elements. Initially, these authors wrote in a hypercritical and leftist style, later focusing on a traditional conception of old and new Spain. However, controversy soon arose, with figures like Pío Baroja and Ramiro de Maeztu denying the existence of this generation. Later, Pedro Salinas analyzed the concept of “literary generation” as defined by Peterson, further fueling the debate.

Defining the Generation

José Ortega y Gasset distinguished two generations around the dates of 1857 and 1872, one composed of Ángel Ganivet and Miguel de Unamuno and another for the younger members. His disciple, Julián Marías, using the concept of “historic generation” and the central date of 1871, established that it includes Miguel de Unamuno, Ángel Ganivet, Ramón del Valle-Inclán, Jacinto Benavente, Carlos Arniches, Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, Gabriel y Galán, Manuel Gómez Moreno, Miguel Asín Palacios, Serafín Álvarez Quintero, Pío Baroja, Azorín, Joaquín Álvarez Quintero, Ramiro de Maeztu, Manuel Machado, Antonio Machado, and Francisco Villaespesa.

Criticism of the Concept

Criticism of the Generation of ’98 concept was initially made by Juan Ramón Jiménez and later by a large group of critics including Federico de Onís, Ricardo Gullón, Allen W. Phillips, Yvan Shulman, José Carlos Mainer, and Germán Gullón, among others. They questioned the validity of the concept and its opposition to Modernism.

Key Members

Among the most significant members of this group are:

• Ángel Ganivet
• Miguel de Unamuno
• Enrique de Mesa
• Ramiro de Maeztu
• Azorín
• Antonio Machado
• Manuel Machado
• Pío Baroja
• Ricardo Baroja
• Ramón del Valle-Inclán
• Ramón Menéndez Pidal

Some also include Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, who aesthetically can be considered a Naturalist writer, and the playwright Jacinto Benavente. José Ortega y Gasset is generally considered to belong to the Novecentismo movement.

Artists from Other Disciplines

Artists from other disciplines may also be considered within this aesthetic, such as the painters Ignacio Zuloaga and Ricardo Baroja (who was also a writer). Musicians associated with the Generation of ’98 include Isaac Albéniz and Enrique Granados.

Meeting Centers

The Generation of ’98 frequented various gathering places, including:

• Café de Madrid: Presided over by Benavente and Valle-Inclán, frequented by Rubén Darío, Maeztu, and Ricardo Baroja.
• English Brewery: Benavente and his followers.
• Café Fornos: Valle-Inclán, the Machado brothers, Pío Baroja, and Azorín.
• Lion d’Or Coffee and Café de Levante: Presided over by Valle-Inclán.

Magazines

The authors of the Generation of ’98 were grouped around literary magazines such as:

• Don Quijote (1892-1902)
• Germinal (1897-1899)
• Vida Nueva (1898-1900)
• Revista Nueva (1899)
• Juventud (1901-1902)
• Electra (1901)
• Helios (1903-1904)
• Alma Española (1903-1905)

Memoirs

The Generation of ’98 authors often wrote about their peers. Pío Baroja left memoirs in Juventud, egolatría and Desde la última vuelta del camino. Ricardo Baroja did the same in Gente del 98. Unamuno left several autobiographical works about his youth.

Characteristics

The Generation of ’98 shared several common characteristics:

1. Concern for Spain’s Identity: They distinguished between a “real” Spain and an official, seemingly false Spain. This concern led to the “debate on the Being of Spain.”
2. Love for Castile: They showed great interest in the Castilian landscape, traditions, and language.
3. Literary Innovation: They broke with traditional literary forms and created new ones, such as Unamuno’s nivola, Azorín’s impressionistic novels, Baroja’s open and fragmented novels, and Valle-Inclán’s grotesque and expressionistic theater.
4. Rejection of Realism: They rejected the realist aesthetic and its elaborate style, preferring a language closer to everyday speech.
5. Influence of European Philosophy: They were influenced by European philosophical currents of irrationalism, particularly Friedrich Nietzsche, Arthur Schopenhauer, Søren Kierkegaard, and Henri Bergson.
6. Pessimism and Criticism: Pessimism was a common attitude, and they often expressed criticism of Spanish society.
7. Regenerationism: They shared the view of regeneration, particularly as advocated by Joaquín Costa.

Criticisms and Debates

Critics have argued that the Generation of ’98 was characterized by egotism, a sense of frustration, neo-romantic exaggeration, and imitation of European fashions. Leftist critics of the 1930s viewed their rebellion as a symptom of petty bourgeois intellectualism. Defining the Generation of ’98 has been challenging due to the complexity of the historical context and the diverse experiences of the authors involved.

Historical Context

The years between 1875 and 1898 were marked by the Restoration project of Antonio Cánovas del Castillo. The loss of the colonies in 1898 led to a renewed focus on Spain’s political and social structures. The intellectuals of the Generation of ’98 had experienced two distinct epochs: the revolutionary fervor of the early Restoration and the subsequent period of disillusionment and stagnation. They sought new ways of thinking and political action to address Spain’s challenges.

European Analogues

The Generation of ’98 can be compared to similar intellectual movements in other European countries that grappled with national identity and social change in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Bibliography

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See Also

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External Links

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