Spanish Romanticism: An Overview
Unit 2: The Romantic Movement
Introduction
Romanticism, a significant cultural, political, and vital movement, swept across Europe and America during the first half of the 19th century. Originating in Germany at the end of the 18th century, it reached its peak in Spain around the 1830s and 1840s.
The Essence of Romanticism
Romanticism arose from a deep dissatisfaction with bourgeois values and the perceived limitations of Enlightenment rationalism. It emphasized the importance of feelings and emotions, rejecting the purely rational view of humanity. Romantics prioritized emotional expression over formal perfection in their works.
Key Characteristics of Romanticism
Subjectivism
The focus on personal experiences and truths, particularly evident in poetry, characterized the Romantic emphasis on the individual’s inner world.
The World of Feelings
Love became a central theme, explored in its various forms:
- Sentimental Love: Characterized by unattainable love and the lover’s suffering.
- Passionate Love: Lovers defy all societal and moral boundaries.
The portrayal of women took two main forms:
- The Angel: Beautiful, idealized, and often suffering from the consequences of love.
- The Demon: Beautiful yet perverse, leading the protagonist to destruction.
Pessimism and Disillusionment
Life was often portrayed as a source of torment and sorrow. The Romantic’s yearning for ideals clashed with the harsh realities of life, leading to three distinct phases:
- Illusion: Initial enthusiasm and belief in the fulfillment of dreams.
- Disappointment: The realization that life cannot satisfy their aspirations.
- Universal Nuisance: Contempt for the world, potentially leading to self-destruction.
Escape and Refuge
Romantics sought escape through various means:
- Exploration of other worlds (e.g., the Middle Ages, the Arab world).
- Fantasy and dreams, both positive (peaceful utopias) and negative (nightmares).
- Suicide, as a final escape from reality.
Nature’s Role
Nature was often depicted as somber and wild, mirroring the Romantic’s emotional state.
Religion
God was sometimes seen as a source of solace, but a lack of faith was also prevalent among Romantics.
Character Types
The Romantic hero was typically passionate, proud, in love, unhappy, disillusioned, and rebellious. Marginalized figures were often elevated to the status of heroes. In contrast, the antihero was a cold, calculating, and hypocritical figure who thrived in a corrupt world.
Rejection of Neoclassical Rules
Romantics rejected the rigid rules of Neoclassicism, embracing expressive violence, genre mixing, and a disregard for theatrical conventions.
Spanish Romanticism
A Late Blooming
Spanish Romanticism developed later than in other parts of Europe, reaching its peak in the 1830s and 1840s.
Romantic Poetry
Narrative poetry flourished, recounting historical, legendary, or fictional events. Lyrical poetry explored personal feelings, melancholy, love, and the idealized woman. Notable poets include Espronceda, known for works like El Estudiante de Salamanca and El Diablo Mundo.
Romantic Prose
Prose developed more slowly. The historical novel was popular, alongside sentimental and horror stories. Journalism, however, saw the greatest achievements in Romantic prose, with writers like Larra contributing important political satire and picturesque descriptions.
Romantic Theater
Romantic theater gained popularity in the 1830s, focusing on the theme of love and its tragic consequences. It shared characteristics with Baroque theater, mixing tragedy and comedy, poetry and prose, and emphasizing elaborate scenery. Key playwrights include the Duke of Rivas (Don Álvaro), Hartzenbusch (Los Amantes de Teruel), and Zorrilla (Don Juan Tenorio).