Spanish Literature of the 19th Century: Romanticism and Realism
Spanish Literature of the 19th Century
The Rise of the Bourgeoisie and the Industrial Revolution
The 19th century in Europe was a time of significant change, marked by the rise of the bourgeoisie, the Industrial Revolution, and the development of capitalism. This period saw a shift from a class-stratified society to a more dynamic and complex social structure.
Renaissance Trends and Milestones
Within the Renaissance period, two distinct trends emerged: the Romantic-liberal and the Traditionalist. These trends can be further divided into the following stages:
- Pre-Romanticism (last third of the 18th century)
- Height of Romanticism (return of exiles to Spain, steeped in Romantic ideals)
- Survival of Romanticism (Realist aesthetics begin to prevail in Europe)
Romanticism: Concept and Characteristics
Romanticism was a movement characterized by a yearning for freedom and the conflicts that arise from its limitations. Key characteristics include:
- Individualism and Freedom: Romantics sought to break boundaries, leading to internal conflicts, conflicts with the world, and conflicts with destiny.
- Nature and Freedom: Nature was seen as a reflection of mood, often depicted as wild and untamed. Romantics sought to break free from societal constraints and embrace creativity, fantasy, and the irrational.
- The Search for Identity: Romantics were concerned with individuality and cultural distinctiveness.
Romantic Poetry
Freedom of expression was a hallmark of Romantic poetry. Poets revived old metrical forms, experimented with innovative combinations of meter, and employed connotative and symbolic language. Romantic poetry can be broadly categorized into two types:
- Narrative Poetry: Focused on historical, legendary, and exotic themes. Narrative poems were often short, taking the form of ballads, romances, or historical narratives.
- Lyric Poetry: Characterized by subjectivism and sentimentalism. Lyric poetry explored intimate themes like love and nature, as well as grand themes like the fight for freedom and patriotism. Nature was often personified, with its elements taking on symbolic meaning.
Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer
Bécquer is considered the most influential Spanish poet of the 19th century. His Rimas (Rhymes), published posthumously, explore universal human concerns. Bécquer’s poems are typically short, with a simple and less ornate style. His prose legends also exhibit clear Romantic traits.
Rosalía de Castro
Rosalía de Castro’s poetry shares Bécquer’s simplicity and directness. In En las orillas del Sar (On the Banks of the Sar), she blends personal reflections with the landscapes and traditions of her native Galicia. She also wrote poetry in the Galician language, notably in Follas Novas (New Leaves).
The Novel
The novel flourished during the Romantic period. The historical novel, focusing on historical and legendary events, was particularly popular, often written from a traditionalist perspective. Mariano José de Larra’s historical novels incorporated personal and critical elements that set them apart. The social novel emerged around 1845.
Table Manners (Costumbrismo)
Costumbrismo, or”table manners” consisted of satirical and descriptive sketches that aimed to depict everyday life, often with a focus on traditional customs. These sketches paved the way for the development of the realist novel.
Mariano José de Larra
Larra was a prominent figure in costumbrismo. He published around 200 articles, which can be categorized into political articles (criticizing absolutism and Carlism), literary articles (commenting on contemporary literature), and articles on customs (satirizing societal flaws). Larra’s writing aimed to bring about social change. Journalism experienced significant growth during this period, with many novels being serialized in newspapers, contributing to the novel’s popularity.
Theatre: The Romantic Drama
At the beginning of the century, Baroque plays were still popular. However, with the death of Fernando VII, Romantic theatre gained prominence. The premiere of Don Álvaro o la fuerza del sino (Don Alvaro, or the Force of Fate) marked a major triumph for Romantic drama. Key characteristics include:
- Exploration of human themes and the conflicts of the Romantic self
- A break with Neoclassical rules
- Recreation of exotic settings and customs
- An emphasis on emotional impact
Realism
Realism emerged in France and developed in the second half of the 19th century. Its main characteristics include:
- An objective view of reality
- Focus on issues related to the bourgeoisie
- A critical intent
- Objectivism in narrative style
- Realistic language, avoiding rhetorical excesses
Naturalism
Naturalism took realism further, embracing radical objectivism and a documentary approach to the novel. French writer Émile Zola defined naturalism as characterized by:
- The novel as a scientific method for understanding human beings
- The portrayal of human beings as influenced by their environment and heredity
- Radical objectivism in narration
- Detailed descriptions aiming for accurate representation of reality
- Faithful reproduction of speech patterns
Stages of Realism in Spain
- Pre-Realism: Costumbrismo and the novel of manners paved the way for the transition to realism.
- Realism and Naturalism: The realist novel gained prominence with the rise of the bourgeoisie.
- Spiritual Realism: Developed from 1890 onwards, influenced by the Russian novel.
Benito Pérez Galdós
Galdós was a prolific writer, with over a hundred titles to his name. His works can be divided into:
- National Episodes: Novels chronicling Spanish history.
- Contemporary Novels: Further divided into:
- First Series: Novels exploring the clash between progressive and reactionary ideas.
- Contemporary Spanish Novels: Reflecting the complexities of Spanish society.
- Spiritual Novels: Representing a spiritual exploration within a realist framework.
Leopoldo Alas, “Clarín”
Alas, known by his pseudonym “Clarín,” was a respected and feared literary critic. He is also known for his excellent short stories and novellas.
Naturalism in Spain
Zola’s naturalist principles were not fully adopted in Spain. However, authors of this period incorporated naturalistic elements into their realist works. Emilia Pardo Bazán introduced naturalism to Spain, but rejected its denial of spirituality. Vicente Blasco Ibáñez employed naturalistic techniques in some of his novels, particularly in his descriptions of environments, choice of subject matter, and focus on regionalism.