Romanticism in Spain: Literature, Theater, Prose, and Poetry
Romanticism: A Literary Movement
Romanticism was a literary movement whose heyday was in Europe during the first decades of the nineteenth century. It is characterized by its delivery to the imagination and subjectivity, freedom of thought and expression, and its idealization of nature. Its features are:
- Individualism and subjectivism
- Search for originality and the distinctive features of nations
- Protection of freedom from all points of view of art, which leads to an attitude of rebellion against any standard or limitation
- Exaltation of feeling, sensitivity, and imagination
- It is against reason and has a special fascination for the mysterious
- Need to escape in time, legends, and historical themes
- Presence of rugged landscapes and wildlife, in many cases reflecting the sentiments of the artists
Romantic Drama
The theater was very important in Spain, mostly from 1830. Its characteristics are:
- They leave neoclassical rules and the rule of three unities.
- The overarching themes are passionate and impossible love, tragedy, the conflicts of human beings, and the frustrated longing for a better and happier world.
- In scenarios and locations, there is a tendency toward the dark night, caves, and mysterious cemeteries.
- In terms of form, mixed prose and verse, and virtually all combinations are allowed.
Jose Zorrilla (Don Juan Tenorio)
Zorrilla was unveiled at Larra’s funeral, with some verses written the night before, which established him as a great poet. He stands out especially in narrative poetry with legendary content. His most famous work is Don Juan Tenorio, with which he enjoyed tremendous success, and it remains popular today. An example is the staging of it that is done every year through the streets of Vegueta.
Romantic Prose in Spain
The Novel
As explained in the prose of romance, many of these works impress the reader with gruesome stories, bloody, and full of tragedies.
Pictures of Customs
Collect the Romantic style to reflect customs and popular types. These are short stories, often collected in the form of newspaper articles. Some writers used it to criticize social and political bad habits, which reflected Spanish backwardness in relation to Europe.
Mariano José Larra (The Old Castilian)
Born in 1809, Larra was very close to literary circles and noted as the author of articles on Spanish society. He was known by the pseudonym of Figaro. Of his articles, we will highlight In This Country, Back Tomorrow, and The Old Castilian.
Romantic Poetry in Spain: Part 1
Covers from 1820 to 1860. Strong feelings are exalted, violent contrasts of mood, singing to the marginal, and political and social concerns, among others.
José de Espronceda (Pirate Song)
His political activities led him to prison and exile in England and France to defend the ideals of justice and freedom. In his songs, he expresses rebellion against a world that seems filled with a moral hypocrite and selfish. As for his literary ideal, he highlights the mixture of different lines, the contrast of situations or feelings, and reflects the taste for grim times past and places. His style is understated, simple, and very expressive.
Post-Romantic Poetry: Part 2
From the 1850s, some young writers incorporated Romanticism. They did not live the Romantic era to the fullest but felt the same need to express feelings and inner exploration that had moved the Romantics of the early period.
Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer (Rhymes 21 and 25)
Bécquer considered that poetry is born of a creative process that has its origin in the exploration of feelings and emotions. In that world, women have a special place, not only because they represent beauty but also because they are poetry. His Rhymes are essentially musical, short poems in assonant verses, in which he exalts love and despair. Bécquer knew loneliness and debugged his feelings and expressed them in thoughtful, well-structured, simple poetry that also conveys emotions.