Romanticism and Realism in 19th Century Literature
Romanticism
1. The First Half of the Nineteenth Century
In the late eighteenth century, the French Revolution brought new political, ideological, and social changes to Europe. It questioned the absolute power of monarchs and the stratified society, proposing a constitutional parliamentary system, limiting the powers of the king, and ending the privileges of the nobility.
The French Revolution had two main factions:
- The Absolutists: Supporters of maintaining privileges.
- Liberals: Proponents of a system that granted rights to citizens.
It’s important to also consider the impact of the Industrial Revolution (England), which began in the late eighteenth century. It brought a new social class, the proletariat, in addition to consolidating the bourgeoisie as the ruling class.
In Spain, the Napoleonic invasion gave rise to the War of Independence. During those years, a constitution was drafted in Cadiz but was abolished when King Ferdinand VII reinstated absolutism. In 1833, after the king’s death, exiled intellectuals returned, and a period known as the thirty years of late Romanticism in Spain began.
2. Romantic Literature: Characteristics
- Emphasis on Freedom: Leading to originality and individualism.
- Emotional and Rhetorical Language:
- Rebellion: Questioning bourgeois values, many texts focused on marginal characters who symbolized this rebellious attitude.
- Escapism: Seeking refuge in the past and remote locations.
- Nature as a Mirror of Emotions: Dark environments, rough seas, etc., were used to express feelings.
3. Some Foreign Authors
- Goethe (Faust)
- Lord Byron
4. Romantic Poetry
- Free Verse: Mixing verses of different lengths and structures.
- Themes: Ideal love, passion, loneliness, the individual rejected by society, etc.
- Rhetorical Language: Frequent use of questions, exclamations, etc.
Two main types of Romantic poetry:
- Lyrical: Expressing personal feelings.
- Narrative: Telling stories based on legends.
5. Romantic Prose
Romantic prose encompassed both works of fiction (e.g., Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer) and journalistic texts (e.g., Mariano José de Larra).
6. Romantic Theater
Romantic theater rejected the classical unities of time and place. Creation was conceived as a free act, exempt from rules. Romantic plays often featured a mysterious hero with an inevitable and tragic fate. Events typically took place in gloomy settings. The language was highly rhetorical, mixing verse and prose (e.g., Ángel de Saavedra, José Zorrilla’s Don Juan Tenorio).
Realism
1. The Second Half of the Nineteenth Century
The economic and social transformations brought about by the Industrial Revolution significantly impacted the second half of the nineteenth century in Europe. These changes led to the consolidation of the bourgeoisie and the emergence of labor movements and trade unions.
In Spain, this period began with the reign of Isabella II. The Glorious Revolution forced the royal family into exile, leading to the Sexenio Democrático (Democratic Six-Year Period), during which a republic was proclaimed. In 1875, the Bourbon monarchy was restored, ushering in an era known as the Restoration, which unsuccessfully attempted to address Spain’s severe socioeconomic problems.
2. Realistic Literature: Characteristics
- Observation and Accurate Representation of the Environment:
- Critical Portrayal of Society: Authors aimed to depict society credibly and critically, with the desire to transform and improve it through literature.
Realist authors believed that the novel was the most suitable genre for their purposes. It was also the preferred genre of the reading public, the bourgeoisie.
3. The Realist Novel
- Focus on Reality and Everyday Life:
- Treatment of Contemporary Issues: Addressing social and political conflicts of the time.
- Objectivity and Realism: Faithful representation of reality.
- Critical Perspective of the Author: The author expressed their views through the narrator.
- Use of the Omniscient Narrator: Allowing for analysis of characters’ thoughts and emotions.
- Simple and Clear Language:
- Meticulous Recreation of Characters’ Speech:
4. Realism in Europe
- France: Stendhal
- Russia: Fyodor Dostoevsky and Leo Tolstoy
5. Realism and Naturalism in Spain
Three Stages:
5.1 Pre-Realism
Beginning in 1849, novels had a moralizing tone and focused on manners. Pre-Realist authors did not delve into psychological analysis or social criticism, preferring colorful and picturesque details and the defense of traditional values. (e.g., Pedro Antonio de Alarcón)
5.2 Realism
From 1870, there was a greater effort to portray contemporary reality with a critical intention. The narrator became more objective, and characters were subjected to more detailed psychological portraits. (e.g., Juan Valera, José María de Pereda)
5.3 Naturalism
From 1881, Naturalism recreated the harsher aspects of reality. Characters were depicted as victims of their physical and genetic inheritance and the environment in which they lived. These factors determined their fate and prevented them from exercising free will. (e.g., Emilia Pardo Bazán, Vicente Blasco Ibáñez)