Neoclassical Poetry and Theatre: Rococo, Moratinos, and More
Neoclassical Poetry and Theatre
Poetry. The baroque poetry covers topics such as love and feminine beauty. This trend is called Rococo poetry. Illustrated poetry includes poets like Garcia de la Huerta, Nicolas Fernandez, and Jose Moratín Gallows. The consolidation of this poetry was slow, but when it occurred, authors like Leandro Fernandez de Moratin or Samaniego came to light. The issues addressed in illustrated poetry include:
- The excitement of the fine arts.
- Scientific and philosophical ideas.
- Ideas of social reform.
- The importance of friendship.
- Ideals of virtue.
- Ignorance and oppression.
- The censure of vices.
Next to this kind of poetry, there is a tender and sensual side more pastoral in nature: the Anacreontic, with compositions and stanzas of short meter, brief, lively, and cheerful in tone.
Juan Meléndez Valdés
In his poetry, poems are frequently modeled on the neoclassical genre Anacreontic. The presence of nature is very important in many of his compositions, foreshadowing the Romantic sensibility. His poems are characterized by sentimentality, emotional tone, tender and emotional themes, such as friendship and parental love. The meter of his poems is varied: romances, letrillas, sonnets, etc. Stylistically, he uses an artificial and delicate language, with plenty of nicknames or pleasant and kind words.
Neoclassical Theatre
The style and the characters are stereotyped. Comedies of saints, bandits, swashbuckling, intrigue, and heroic themes were very successful. The neoclassical theater had to fight the Baroque, which had more popularity. As reforms were implemented in this new theater, mystery plays and comedies of saints and magic were prohibited. Still, the neoclassical theater continued to face problems, as municipalities opposed it because the Baroque enjoyed popular support and led to economic benefits.
The farce is a short comic play that was represented in the intervals of other major works. It dramatizes situations drawn from everyday life and features characters typical of the time. The romantic comedy is a hybrid between tragedy and comedy, with realistic characters, happy endings, and acceptance of neoclassical units. Its critical issues are unequal marriage and the exaltation of bourgeois values. Its greatest merit is incorporating a new language. The most important work is The Offender Honored by Jovellanos.
The application of neoclassical principles is stricter in the genres of comedy and tragedy. Neoclassical comedy or morality also failed to gain traction until very late with the works of Leandro Fernández de Moratinos. As in illustrated literature, the didactic intention is always present. The influence of French classical theater, especially Moliere, is remarkable.
Leandro Fernández de Moratinos
His poetry is remarkable: he wrote satirical poems. Although there are many eight-syllable verses and traditional forms, the use of soft pentameter is significant. Although his theatrical production was low, he excelled as a playwright. He only composed five comedies (with didactic intent): The Old Man and the Girl, The Baron, and The Other Girls. There are also New Comedy or Coffee Shop, The Prude, and The Spoiled Gentleman. He calls on concepts such as responsibility, prudence, virtue, and education, competing with ideas conveyed by the popular comedies. The main theme of Moratín in his plays, that of forced marriages, is also present in the late eighteenth century. Therefore, didacticism is one of the fundamental features of Moratinos’ comedy. Other features are credibility and respect for the classical rules, and a simple language appropriate to the condition of each character.