Spanish Literature Golden Age, Renaissance & 18th Century
GOLDEN CENTURY (XVI – XVII)
This period, spanning from the Catholic Monarchs to Charles III, saw the development of two major cultural and artistic movements in Spain. These movements are collectively referred to as the Golden Age because they represent a pinnacle of cultural splendor.
During this time, the prevailing philosophy placed humanity at the center of the universe, capable of dominating the world and shaping their own destiny. There was a balance between feeling and reason, emphasizing moderation and harmony.
A new ideal of beauty emerged, depicting the world not as it was but as it should be, focusing on nature, love, and women.
One of the main characteristics of the Golden Age was the diversity of literary genres. Mystical poetry and lyrics flourished (St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Jesus), as did theater with Lope de Vega and Calderon de la Barca.
Narrative prose saw the development of three main streams: chivalric romances, pastoral stories, and picaresque novels.
The evolution of the novel began with La Celestina and culminated with Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes.
RENAISSANCE
The Renaissance was a literary, scientific, and philosophical movement that swept across Europe from the second half of the 14th century until the late 16th century. Its main features included a revival of interest in Latin and classical culture, the imitation of classical art forms, and a return to pagan ideals, although this last aspect was less pronounced in Spain.
BAROQUE
The Baroque was a cultural movement of the 17th century that introduced complexity into the forms that had characterized art and European culture during the Renaissance. It was primarily a religious style.
EIGHTEENTH CENTURY: ENLIGHTENMENT
The 18th century, also known as the Age of Enlightenment or the Century of Lights, was a period of cultural and ideological shifts that paved the way for the following century. The Enlightenment was a movement rooted in reason and intellectual inquiry.
Key features of the Enlightenment included:
- Rationalism
- Utilitarianism
- Belief in Progress
- Emphasis on Nature
- Reformism
Enlightenment thinkers looked to Greek and Latin writers as models, leading to a revival of Greco-Roman aesthetics known as Neoclassicism. This movement prioritized reason over emotion, resulting in a decline in lyrical production. It rejected the imaginative and fantastical.
SPANISH LITERATURE IN THE 18TH CENTURY
This period can be divided into three aesthetic movements that reacted against the Baroque:
Early 18th Century: Influence of French Neoclassicism
The first part of the century saw the influence of French Neoclassicism, and literary production was limited. Critical essays were prominent. Notable authors include Fray Benito Jerónimo Feijoo and Ignacio de Luzán.
Triumph of Neoclassicism
Writers embraced neoclassical rules, and literature became subject to reason. Literary production remained sparse, poetry lacked interest, and there were few successful plays. Prominent figures include José Cadalso, Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos, Juan Meléndez Valdés, Leandro Fernández de Moratín, Félix María Samaniego, and Tomás de Iriarte.
In theater, there was a strict adherence to the rule of three unities (action, place, and time). The imaginative, fantastical, and mysterious were outlawed. There was a clear separation between comedy and tragedy.
Poetry adopted pastoral themes, Anacreontic themes (celebration of simple pleasures), or philosophical themes. Poets suppressed their personal feelings. The language avoided strong metaphors, resulting in a dull and prosaic style.
In lyric poetry, the Madrid group stands out, centered around the San Sebastian Inn, which was open to foreign literature. They defended Neoclassicism, and the best of their lyrics were national and traditional. The Salamanca group upheld the humanist tradition in the 1770s, with figures like Meléndez Valdés, Fray Diego González, and José Cadalso.
Preromanticism
At the end of the century, a movement emerged that rejected the rigidity of Neoclassicism, paving the way for Romanticism in the early 19th century. Key figures include Nicasio Álvarez Cienfuegos, Manuel José Quintana, and Alberto Lista.
Bucolic Pastoral Poetry
This type of poetry celebrated nature, with Juan Meléndez Valdés being a prominent figure.
The Fable
In the 18th century, fables were used to impart moral lessons and advice, often through the voices of animals. Tomás de Iriarte and Félix María Samaniego were notable fabulists.
Leandro Fernández de Moratín: The Maiden’s Consent
Moratín excelled in two types of poetry: satirical and lyrical. His satirical poetry criticized the vices introduced by Neoclassicism. As a lyric poet, he was the most significant of the century, showcasing a rational approach with limited emotional expression. In The Maiden’s Consent, he critiques families who force their daughters into marriage without considering their feelings.
Moratín also wrote “new comedies” that criticized uneducated and ignorant poets who opposed his plays.
Popular Theater
Short sketches replaced traditional opening acts. These sketches, performed between acts, featured popular characters and entertained audiences while satirizing social customs, particularly French influences. Ramón de la Cruz was a notable writer of these sketches.