Religious Poetry and Narrative in 16th Century Spain
Religious Poetry in 16th Century Spain
The mid-16th century, during the reign of Philip II, witnessed an extraordinary development of religious poetry in Spain. Ascetic literature offered guidance on achieving moral perfection, while mystical literature recounted the experiences of individuals who claimed to have found contact with divinity. The principal authors of this period were Fray Luis de Leon and San Juan de la Cruz.
Fray Luis de Leon (1527-1591)
Born in Cuenca in 1527, Fray Luis de Leon became an Augustinian monk at a young age. He studied at the universities of Salamanca, where he later became a professor, and Alcala. He was accused by his colleagues of translating the biblical book of Song of Solomon, an act that allegedly contravened the Council of Trent, which forbade any interpretation of the Bible that was not sanctioned by the Church. As a result, he spent almost five years in prison.
Once freed, he returned to his classes. However, the problems he had with his colleagues led him to leave his chair and take on positions of responsibility within his order. He died in 1591. He was both a prose writer and a poet. His prose works include The Names of Christ, The Perfect Wife, and an exposition of the Book of Job. His poems, often short and translated into Castilian classics, cover topics such as escaping the world, the retired life, longing for heaven, and contempt for worldly matters. He is considered the foremost representative of ascetic poetry.
San Juan de la Cruz (1542-1591)
Born in Avila in 1542, San Juan de la Cruz is considered the greatest representative of mystical poetry. He studied at the University of Salamanca. His attempts to reform the Carmelite order led to several clashes and pressures. He died in 1591. His notable poems include Dark Night of the Soul, Spiritual Canticle, and Living Flame of Love. His poetry is characterized by great emotional intensity. Each of these poems is accompanied by a prose commentary in which the author explains the meaning of the verses.
Narrative of the 16th Century
The cultural environment and the widespread use of printing had significant consequences for narrative literature. These narratives were primarily romantic and idealistic in nature, with some elements present in the previous century, such as books of chivalry. The romances were fantastic transformations of medieval epic poems. The romance genre was not definitively established until the appearance of Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. The most widely read narratives were the books of chivalry.
Lazarillo de Tormes (1554)
Lazarillo de Tormes, whose full title is The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes and of His Fortunes and Adversities (1554), appeared anonymously. It is suspected that its author may have been a converted Jew. This work inaugurated the picaresque novel in Spain and established the characteristics of the genre, which were later imitated. Some of these features include realism, autobiographical narrative, chronological order, and the itinerant life of a young rogue from a low social class who seeks promotion. The protagonist becomes an anti-hero who must survive and learn the art of sophistry, deception, and ruse. The narrative presents a corrupt society, full of thieves, beggars, pimps, and greedy clerics. Corruption and poverty prepare him to accept his final disgrace: being married to the archpriest’s mistress, a situation he tolerates because it provides him with a comfortable living. His social promotion comes at the expense of moral dignity and honor.
Structure of Lazarillo de Tormes
The novel consists of a prologue and seven treatises of unequal length. In the prologue, Lazarus addresses an unknown person, referred to as “your worship,” to explain how he achieved his position on merit. This is an autobiographical narrative that recounts his life from the beginning until he obtains the post of town crier of Toledo. The treatises contain the adventures of the protagonist as he serves many masters. The first three masters subject him to hunger and many adversities. These first three masters are true masters, from whom he learns to survive at any cost. The masters he serves condition the protagonist’s life.