Spanish Literature: Baroque to Neoclassicism
Lope de Vega and the New Comedy
Lope de Vega was the founder of the *New Comedy*, featuring fast-paced action. He led an intense life, filled with great passion and love. The immense success of his works made him a very popular man.
Tirso de Molina
Tirso de Molina, a follower of Lope de Vega, respected the features of the *New Comedy* and emphasized determined and intelligent women. He is the author of *The Trickster of Seville*. Don Juan Tenorio, the protagonist, is a young conqueror who seduces and abandons two noblewomen and two peasant women. He is ultimately punished for his immoral behavior.
Calderón de la Barca
Calderón de la Barca was the last great author of the Spanish Baroque. His work is characterized by deep philosophical themes, presented in dense and elaborate monologues.
The Enlightenment and Neoclassicism
The Enlightenment, also known as Neoclassicism, was a cultural movement developed in 18th-century Europe. The *philosophes* trusted reason and science as sources of knowledge and rejected knowledge based on revelation or religious tradition.
They belonged to the educated bourgeoisie and defended the dignity, equality of rights, and freedom of human beings. They considered education the main instrument for achieving a more just and prosperous society.
The Enlightenment came to Spain via the Bourbon dynasty, which implemented a policy called “enlightened despotism”: “Everything for the people, but without the people.” This was especially true during the reign of Charles III.
The literary trend characteristic of Neoclassicism is mainly characterized by its didactic purpose, with the fable being a prominent genre. Notable authors include Félix María de Samaniego and Tomás de Iriarte.
Key Essayists of the Spanish Enlightenment
- Fray Benito Gerónimo Feijoo: In his works, he combatted what he called the common errors of his time, such as superstition and false patriotism.
- José Cadalso: Author of *Cartas Marruecas* (Moroccan Letters), a set of 90 letters that criticize various aspects of Spain at the time, such as backward science and noble idleness.
- Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos: In his major work, *Informe sobre la Ley Agraria* (Report on the Agrarian Law), he denounced the concentration of land in the hands of the nobility as a cause of agricultural backwardness in Spain.
Enlightenment Theater
The Enlightenment considered theater an ideal tool to educate society and disseminate its points of view. The characteristics of Enlightenment theater generally include being written in prose and following the theatrical rules of the 16th century.
Calderón de la Barca (Mentioned Again – Corrected Repetition)
Note: The original document repeated the section on Calderón de la Barca. This has been corrected to avoid redundancy. The information is already presented above.