Modernism and the Generation of ’98 in Spain
Modernism and the Generation of ’98
Modernism
Modernism was an artistic movement that spread throughout the creative world. Created by Rubén Darío and José Martí, it features:
- Aesthetic literature: It seeks beauty above all else.
- Escapism: Authors often expressed feelings like boredom and laziness.
- Symbolic elements: Reliance on symbols, such as the swan.
The Generation of ’98
The Generation of ’98 was a group of authors born in the late 19th century who discussed two main topics:
- The decline of Spain.
- Existential anguish.
Their texts show a great influence of the philosophical currents of the time. They pursued a purification of literary language and sought a natural and simple tone.
Rubén Darío
Rubén Darío (1867-1916) was the foremost representative of Modernism. Three of his poems are distinguished:
- Azul…
- Prosas Profanas
- Cantos de vida y esperanza, which represented a move towards a more intimate and reflective poetry in which the author presents important topics.
Prose
Modernist prose is characterized by the use of poetic language, including musicality, and is full of sensory and evocative images. The authors of the Generation of ’98 cultivated the essay and the novel. In their essays, they addressed two major issues: the decline of the country and their existential concerns.
Azorín
In Azorín’s work, the plot is minimal, and the description of environments and feelings is important. His novels are presented as a sequence of small descriptive scenes that try to capture the rhythm of real life.
Theater
There was a rupture with the theater of the previous century. The great innovator of the Spanish scene was Ramón del Valle-Inclán.
Antonio Machado
Antonio Machado (1875-1939) was born in Seville. At the age of 8, he moved to Madrid, where he was educated at the Institución Libre de Enseñanza. In 1907, he became a French professor in Soria. There, he fell in love with Leonor and married her in 1909. Leonor died in 1912. He met Pilar de Valderrama in Baeza. Of progressive ideology, he was exiled to France in 1939 and died there.
Machado’s Poetics
One of the essential aspects of Machado’s poetics was the search for what led him to speak through symbols and explore rhythm and musicality. He evolved into a new, simpler, and more sober style.
- Soledades: Published in 1903, it expresses intimate feelings and emotions. Modernist aesthetic issues are appreciated, both in form and content.
- Campos de Castilla: Addresses the specific issues of the land and expresses his sorrow for the loss.
Juan Ramón Jiménez
Juan Ramón Jiménez was born in Huelva in 1881. In 1916, he moved to the U.S. to marry Zenobia Camprubí and returned there after the outbreak of the Civil War. In 1956, he won the Nobel Prize in Literature, and two years later, he died in Puerto Rico. His work is characterized by the search for perfection. There are three stages:
- Sensitive Stage: Marked by the influence of Modernism. The poems stand out for the sound of the verse and the presence of Modernist symbols and motifs.
- Intellectual Stage: Opened in 1916, it features formal nudity. It addressed issues such as loneliness and death.
- True Stage: The books written during the author’s American exile remain. The poet seeks transcendence through perfection and beauty.
Federico García Lorca
Federico García Lorca (“Fede”) was born in Granada in 1898. In 1919, he moved to Madrid, where he came into contact with many of the authors of his generation. In 1929, he moved to New York. He was shot to death in 1936.
First Stage: *Romancero Gitano* (Gypsy Ballads)
Lorca composed a popular type of poem that reproduces the forms of traditional Spanish poetry to express some of the recurring themes in *Romancero Gitano*. The poet makes the Roma a mythical people, a symbol of the values of beauty, courage, and freedom.
Second Stage: *Poeta en Nueva York* (Poet in New York)
This stage is highly influenced by the avant-garde movements. After his trip to New York, Lorca composed a number of poems in which he tries to reflect issues such as poverty and hunger. For this, he turns to free verse and uses surrealist images. The meaning of the poem lies mainly in its ability to suggest and convey emotions.
Lorca’s Theater
Lorca was the greatest innovator of Spanish theater in the first third of the 20th century. His first drama was a Symbolist text, but his great success came with a historical drama in verse. The height of his theatrical production consists of three rural tragedies set in Andalusia. *Bodas de Sangre* (Blood Wedding) poses an impossible love between a man and a woman from two rival families.