Realism and Naturalism in 19th-Century Spanish Literature
Realism and Naturalism in Spain
4. The Rise of Realism and Naturalism
The triumph of Realism in Spain was delayed due to the historical circumstances that prevented its emergence until after the 1868 revolution. The subsequent rise of a bourgeois society, a new climate of freedom, and the disappearance of censorship explain the rise of realistic literature from the 1870s onwards.
In contrast, Naturalism arrived earlier, with Zola’s works being translated immediately. However, Spanish writers didn’t fully embrace the idea of literature as science, adopting only certain narrative techniques and an interest in depicting squalid environments.
The transition from Romantic prose to Realism is evident in the novels of Fernán Caballero and Pedro Antonio de Alarcón.
Early Realist Writers
Fernán Caballero (pseudonym of Cecilia Böhl de Faber) incorporated Romantic elements in works like The Seagull and The Family of Alvareda.
Pedro Antonio de Alarcón, also close to Romanticism, is best known for his novella The Three-Cornered Hat, a comedic portrayal of folk customs.
Realism Takes Hold
Juan Valera wrote novels like Pepita Jiménez, Doña Luz, and Juanita la Larga, set in idealized locations where social conflicts fade. His refined style, clever construction, and ironic narration create distance between characters and author.
José María de Pereda championed rural life against urban and bourgeois evils. His novels, mostly set in Cantabria (examples of regional novels), excel in descriptions of landscapes and local characters. Notable works include Sotileza, Peñas arriba, and The Flavor of Tierruca.
Emilia Pardo Bazán demonstrated Naturalistic influences in novels like The Tribune, Los Pazos de Ulloa, and Mother Nature, depicting harsh realities and degraded environments. However, her religious faith tempered the deterministic aspects of Naturalism. She also wrote numerous short stories compiled in volumes like Christmas Tales and Tales of Love.
5. Benito Pérez Galdós
Galdós’s narrative work can be categorized into Episodios Nacionales (National Episodes) and other novels, which fall into three groups:
- Early Novels: Published in the 1870s, these thesis novels often express Galdós’s liberal sympathies. Examples include Doña Perfecta, Gloria, Marianela, and The Family of Leon Roch.
- Contemporary Spanish Novels: Published from the 1880s, these include The Disinherited, El amigo Manso, La de Bringas, Fortunata and Jacinta, and Miau. Fortunata and Jacinta, his most ambitious work, portrays Madrid’s social life, showcasing Galdós’s mastery of character development, dialogue, and interior monologue. This novel exemplifies his total realism, blending realistic and naturalistic elements with memories, dreams, and symbols.
- Later Novels: From 1889 onwards, Galdós experimented with new forms of expression in novels like Angel Guerra, Tristana, the Torquemada tetralogy, Nazarín, and Misericordia. These works feature innovative techniques like dialogue-driven narratives, epistolary forms, and the incorporation of fantastical elements.
The Episodios Nacionales comprise forty-six novels that reconstruct 19th-century Spanish history, exploring the political and social upheavals following the 1868 overthrow of the Bourbon monarchy.