Spanish Romanticism: An Overview
Historical and Political Context
Reign of Ferdinand VII (1814-1833)
Ferdinand VII’s reign heavily influenced politics and literature. The Constitution of Cadiz was approved, leading to military clashes.
Reign of Elizabeth II (1833-1878)
This period saw the Carlist Wars, sparked by the succession of Ferdinand VII, with the peculiar laws of 1868-1875.
Period of Volatility (1868-1875)
A time of instability marked by the liberal Borbonica.
Glorious Restoration (1875-1885)
Liberals and conservatives achieved stability, maintaining the governance system for a time before the outbreak of civil war.
Introduction to Romanticism in Spain
Romanticism entered Spain through Andalusia and Catalonia, influenced by European trends.
Andalusia
Juan Nicolás Böhl Faber, the Prussian consul in Cadiz, published articles in the Trade Journal (1818-1819) defending the Spanish Golden Age theatre against neoclassical criticism. His traditional, anti-liberal, and absolutist views clashed with those of José Joaquín de Mora and Antonio Alcalá Galiano, who, despite representing European literary modernism, found Böhl Faber’s ideas unacceptable due to their Enlightenment leanings.
Catalonia
The European, a magazine published in Barcelona (1823-1824) by Italian and English writers alongside Catalans Bonaventura Carles Aribau and Ramon López Soler, advocated for a moderate, traditionalist Romanticism. Luigi Monteggia’s article “Romanticism” marked the first exposition of romantic ideology in the publication, rejecting neoclassicism.
Poetry
Romantic poets expressed their feelings and thoughts in verse with great lyrical strength, though sometimes mixed with prosaic verses. Key themes include:
- The Self: Espronceda’s Song to Teresa poignantly captures love and disappointment.
- Passionate Love: Sudden, intense love affairs and rapid withdrawals.
- Historical and Legendary Themes: Inspiration from history and legends.
- Religion: Often explored through rebellion, compassion, and even the exaltation of the devil.
- Social Demands: Focus on improving the lives of marginalized groups like beggars.
- Nature: Depicted in all its forms, often set in mysterious places like cemeteries, storms, or the raging sea.
- Satire: Frequently linked to political or literary events.
Romanticism also impacted versification, rejecting neoclassical rigidity and embracing diverse metrics.
Espronceda
Espronceda explored various genres, including the historical novel (Sancho Saldaña) and epic poetry (El Pelayo). His most significant works are his poems, published in 1840, which include romantic and neoclassical elements. His most important poems celebrate marginalized figures (Pirate Song, The Executioner, The Beggar, Song of the Cossack). The Student from Salamanca (1840) and The Devil World are his key works.
Prose
Despite a strong interest in fiction, Spanish prose production was limited, relying heavily on translations of foreign novels (Dumas, Chateaubriand, Scott, Hugo). Spanish prose focused on novels, scholarly works, journalism, and costumbrismo.
Costumbrismo
From the 1820s to 1870s, costumbrismo flourished, featuring short prose articles depicting everyday life, popular customs, and social stereotypes. Many, like Larra’s articles, incorporated satire.
Theatre
: The neoclassical theater was unable to permeate the tastes of the Spanish. In the early nineteenth century were applauding the work of the Golden Age. These works were neglected by neoclassical not subject to the rule of three units (action, place and time) and mix comedy with drama. But those works attracted outside Spain, precisely because not subject to defending the neoclassical ideal.