Spanish Romanticism: A Comprehensive Overview

Posted on Sep 24, 2024 in Music

Romanticism in Spain

1. Historical and Cultural Context

The unique historical and political circumstances in Spain during the first third of the 19th century explain the late and unusual development of the Romantic movement in Spanish literature. The War of Independence and the reign of Ferdinand VII prevented Romanticism from flourishing in Spain during its peak years in Europe. Only after Ferdinand VII’s reign and the return of exiles did this style penetrate the country, but with limited strength and depth.

2. Characteristics of Romanticism

Romanticism is a cultural movement that opposes the principles of the Enlightenment, arising from a profound social and ideological crisis. Its main features include:

  1. Irrationalism: Rejection of reason as the sole explanation for reality, leading to an interest in the supernatural, magic, and mysteries.
  2. Subjectivism: Emphasis on forms of knowledge beyond reason, such as intuition and imagination. Emotions, dreams, and fantasies are highly valued, with passion prevailing over reason.
  3. Idealism: A predilection for absolute ideals, including freedom, progress, and beauty. Romantics experience a sense of incompleteness and seek the absolute, leading to dissatisfaction, frustration, and unhappiness.
  4. Individualism: Romantics prioritize the individual over society, feeling superior to their surroundings, which can result in loneliness.
  5. The Creative Genius: Art is seen as the expression of the creative genius within the artist, with a revaluation of spontaneity and intuition.
  6. Radical Insecurity: Having lost faith in reason, Romantics lack absolute certainties in the world.
  7. Disillusionment: The clash between the Romantic self and the harsh reality produces disappointment, leading to rebellion against established norms.
  8. Evasion: Romantics escape from undesirable realities by turning to the past (e.g., the Middle Ages), exotic locations, or the East. Suicide is the extreme form of escape.
  9. Loneliness: Solitude becomes a refuge from reality. Romantics are drawn to solitary settings like castles and cemeteries.
  10. Dynamic Nature: Nature is depicted dramatically and dynamically, with a preference for nighttime settings. It reflects the author’s moods.
  11. New Sensitivity: Emphasis on intimacy, longing, sadness, and melancholy. There is a taste for darkness and twilight.
  12. Nationalism: A keen interest in the unique aspects of one’s nation, including its roots and history. This leads to a celebration of national identity.

3. Major Authors and Works

Poetry

Lyric poetry is prominent in Romanticism, expressing themes of feelings, melancholy, love, and the idealized woman. Spanish Romantic poetry often lacks a sense of authenticity. Other characteristics include a mix of genres and metrical variety.

  1. José Zorrilla: His poetry encompasses both lyric and narrative forms. He skillfully blends poetic styles and demonstrates a strong sense of rhythm, employing musical and verbal effects and rhetorical devices. He significantly influenced pre-Modernism.
  2. José de Espronceda: His Romantic poetry addresses social issues like the defense of the marginalized, contempt for laws, and the desire for freedom (e.g., “El Diablo Mundo” and “Canción del Pirata”). He favors extreme sensations, booming sounds, acute rhymes, and exclamations.
  3. Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer: A post-Romantic poet known for his “Rimas.” His main themes are love and poetry. He departs from the loud Romantic style, employing a seemingly simple, concise, and unpretentious approach. His style is pre-symbolic, utilizing metaphors and similes (e.g., “Miserere,” “El beso,” and “La luz de la luna”).

Prose

While high-quality literary prose is scarce, the foundations for the realist novel are laid during this period. Legends and historical novels set in the past are common, including Espronceda’s “Sancho Saldaña” and Enrique Gil y Carrasco’s “El Señor de Bembibre.” Serialized novels also gain popularity, contributing to the development of reading habits.

Mariano José de Larra excels as a prose writer, particularly known for his newspaper articles, though he also cultivated other genres. His notable articles include “Vuelva usted mañana,” “El castellano viejo,” and “Los barones consortes.” Larra uses the costumbrista style to critique social realities.

Theater

Romantic dramas achieve great success. The main theme is love and the pursuit of an absolute ideal, which transcends social conventions. These plays often have tragic endings, and characters remain static throughout. Scenery, intrigue, and emotional impact are emphasized, aiming to move and excite the audience. Lyrical landscapes and the passage of time are recurring motifs.

Important works include Martínez de la Rosa’s “La conjuración de Venecia,” Larra’s “Macías,” and Antonio García Gutiérrez’s “El Trovador.” José Zorrilla stands out as the most significant playwright, with notable works like “Don Juan Tenorio,” “El zapatero y el rey,” and “Traidor, inconfeso y mártir.”