Spanish Baroque Literature: A Comprehensive Guide
Item 16: The Baroque Culture in Spain
Influence of Spanish Baroque Catholic Principles
Cultural manifestations during the Spanish Baroque period were deeply influenced by the Catholic principles of the Counter-Reformation.
Patronage and Official Culture
The monarchy and privileged classes actively supported artistic endeavors through patronage. Universities and colleges controlled official culture. As a large portion of the population was illiterate, information dissemination relied heavily on oral and visual means. Religious teachings were conveyed through sermons, imagery, and festivities.
Spain’s Isolation and the Baroque Feast
Spain remained relatively detached from broader European advancements and discoveries during this era. The Baroque culture was characterized by:
- A penchant for ostentation, evident in celebrations, public life, court rituals, religious ceremonies, and processions.
- The rise of theater as a prominent form of entertainment.
Luis de Góngora and Baroque Poetry
Luis de Góngora, a key figure in Spanish Baroque poetry, developed a complex poetic language that sparked both admiration and controversy. His work can be categorized as follows:
Poetry
- Minor Art of Poetry: Góngora explored various themes and approaches, including Moorish romances, pastoral, historical, and burlesque styles. His notable works include the”Fable of Pyramus and Thisb” and satirical”letrillas”
- Sonnets: Primarily centered on love and the Petrarchan tradition, Góngora’s sonnets also touched upon themes of humor and the ephemeral nature of life.
- Longer Poems: Works like the”Fable of Polyphemus and Galate” and”Solitude” showcased Góngora’s mastery of pastoral elements and his exploration of love as a central theme.
Style
Góngora’s style is known for its complexity, characterized by:
- Mythological allusions
- Religious vocabulary
- Rhetorical flourishes
- Alliteration and paronomasia
- Long, intricate sentences
- Allusive periphrasis
- Learned vocabulary
- Hyperbaton
- Repetitive structures
- Metaphors related to color and music
Lope de Vega: A Prolific Playwright
Lope de Vega was an exceptionally talented writer known for his extensive body of work, encompassing lyric poetry, narrative prose, and plays.
Poetry
- Romances: Vega was instrumental in developing new ballads and later in life, focused on religious and moral themes within this genre.
- Petrarchan Poetry: His sonnets explored love, mythology, morality, and personal experiences.
- Epic Poetry: Vega’s epic works include”The Dragonte” or”The Beauty of Angelica”
- Religious Poetry: His”Sacred Rhyme” collection features sonnets and devotional poems expressing guilt, regret, and reflections on Christ’s passion.
Vega’s final publication,”Rimas Poetic Human and Divine of the Lawyer Tomé de Burguillos” is notable for its mock-epic poem and diverse range of sonnets reminiscent of Quevedo’s style.
Francisco de Quevedo: Master of Satire
Francisco de Quevedo was a prolific writer known for his satirical and burlesque works. His diverse themes, attitudes, meters, and linguistic innovations earned him recognition. His poems were featured in anthologies and posthumous editions of”The Spanish Parnassus”
Poetic Themes
Quevedo’s poetry encompassed both high and minor art forms. His thematic approach allows for the following classification:
- Love Poetry: Drawing inspiration from cancionero lyrics, classical Latin poetry, and Petrarchan influences, Quevedo explored themes of unrequited love, suffering, madness, faithfulness, and the passage of time.
- Metaphysical and Moral Poetry: These poems reflect Quevedo’s disillusionment with life’s brevity, the illusion of appearances, and the inevitability of death. He critiques the vices of his time and advocates for virtue and eternal values.
- Satirical and Burlesque Poetry: Quevedo satirizes human customs and social types, particularly targeting women with misogynistic humor. He also parodies classical myths, heroic poetry, Petrarchan conventions, and Góngora’s style.
- Religious Poetry: Combining religious and moral themes, Quevedo’s poems express repentance for sins and contemplate Christ’s passion.
Beyond these categories, Quevedo also composed occasional poetry, such as praise for courtiers and ancient heroes, as well as descriptive pieces.
Style
Quevedo’s style is marked by the extensive use of rhetorical devices, including metaphors, similes, antitheses, and contrasts. His satirical and burlesque works employ caricatures for comedic effect. In his serious poetry, Quevedo utilizes elevated vocabulary, hyperbole, and a didactic tone. He is renowned for his lexical creativity, manipulation of idioms, and contributions to Spanish national comedy.
Item 17: 17th-Century Spanish Theater
The Rise of National Comedy
The 17th century witnessed the consolidation of national comedy, also known as new comedy, in Spain. Lope de Vega pioneered this genre, which was further developed by playwrights like Calderón de la Barca.
Characteristics of Baroque Theater
- Mixing of Tragedy and Comedy: Baroque plays often blended tragic and comic elements, reflecting the complexities of life.
- Dramatic Unities: Baroque playwrights did not strictly adhere to the classical unities of time and place. Instead, they adapted the stage and timeframe to suit the narrative.
- Unity of Action: While time and place were flexible, unity of action remained crucial, ensuring that all elements contributed to the overall plot.
- Division into Acts: Plays were typically divided into three acts—exposition, conflict, and resolution—with each act further divided into scenes marked by changes in meter.
- Decorum, Language, and Polymetry: Decorum dictated the appropriateness of characters’ behavior and language based on their social standing. Lope de Vega advocated for clear, chaste language that aligned with the situation and characters, adhering to decorum and verisimilitude. Polymetry, the use of various meters, was employed to reflect different characters and situations.
Lope de Vega’s Contributions
Lope de Vega played a pivotal role in establishing national comedy as a distinct genre. Despite his prolific output, his humble background and unconventional lifestyle prevented him from securing a permanent position as a court playwright.
Characteristics of Lope’s Works
Vega’s plays are characterized by a blend of learned and popular elements. He drew inspiration from proverbs, folk songs, ballads, the Bible, hagiographies, mythology, and Spanish history and legends. Recognizing the diversity of his audience, Vega aimed to entertain and engage through various means.
Notable Plays
- Fuente Ovejuna: This play is notable for its depiction of collective heroism. The villagers of Fuente Ovejuna, subjected to the tyranny of their commander, ultimately rebel and kill him. The play explores themes of justice, abuse of power, and the consequences of oppression.
- The Knight of Olmedo: Based on a true story, this tragic drama centers on Don Alonso, a knight who becomes aware of his impending doom. The play employs premonition through dreams and foreshadowing to heighten the sense of tragedy. Love, death, and fate are central themes.
- Peribáñez and the Commander of Ocaña: This play revolves around the conflict between Peribáñez, a peasant, and the Commander, who becomes infatuated with Peribáñez’s wife. The play explores themes of honor, jealousy, and social hierarchy.
- The Stupid Lady: This urban comedy follows the transformation of Finea, a seemingly unintelligent woman, through the power of love. The play utilizes comic devices and witty dialogue to entertain the audience.
Tirso de Molina: Psychological Depth and Social Commentary
Tirso de Molina, another prominent playwright of the era, followed Lope de Vega’s model and championed new comedy. His works often incorporated psychological insights and social commentary.
Characteristics of Tirso’s Works
Tirso’s plays demonstrate a keen interest in the status of women, particularly their intelligence and agency. He is considered a master of comedy, known for creating memorable characters and incorporating political satire that critiques government corruption.
Notable Plays
- The Jealous Husband of Himself: This play explores the theme of jealousy and its destructive nature.
- The Woman Who Commands at Home: This play examines the dynamics of power within a marriage.
- Santa Juana: This play tells the story of a woman who disguises herself as a man to pursue her religious calling.
- The Trickster of Seville and the Stone Guest: This tragicomedy features the iconic character of Don Juan, a notorious seducer.
Calderón de la Barca: Philosophical and Moral Dramas
Calderón de la Barca was the last major playwright of the Spanish Baroque. His works reflect a deep concern with religious, philosophical, and moral questions.
Characteristics of Calderón’s Works
Calderón’s plays are known for their intellectual depth and complexity. He presents a pessimistic view of human nature, often focusing on the conflict between reason and passion, intellect and instinct, and free will versus determinism. His characters, particularly the gracioso (comic figure), become more complex and nuanced.
Notable Plays
- Life is a Dream: This philosophical drama explores themes of fate, free will, illusion versus reality, self-control, power, and justice. The play centers on Segismundo, a prince imprisoned since birth due to a prophecy foretelling his tyrannical rule.
- The Daughter of the Air: This tragedy tells the story of Semiramis, a legendary queen of Assyria.
- No Trifling with Love: This serious comedy examines the complexities of love and honor.
- Echo and Narcissus: This mythological play reinterprets the classic Greek myth.
- The Great Theater of the World: This auto sacramental (religious play) uses allegory to convey moral and spiritual lessons.
Calderón de la Barca’s plays represent the culmination of Spanish Baroque theater, showcasing the era’s fascination with spectacle, intellectual exploration, and the human condition.