The Enchanting World of Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer: Exploring Spanish Legends
Monte de las Animas
Set on the outskirts of Soria, along the banks of the Duero River, the legend of Monte de las Animas tells the tale of a young man named Alonso and his quest to win the heart of his cousin. Taking place in the Middle Ages, the legend unfolds through Alonso’s perspective, offering a glimpse into his memories and experiences.
The story unfolds in a flashback, recounting events that transpired over a 24-hour period, from morning until the following dawn. Alonso, the heir to the land where the story takes place, is an innocent young man deeply in love with the beautiful Beatrice.
Characters
- Alonso: An innocent young man deeply in love with Beatrice. He embarks on a perilous quest to find a lost object belonging to her, ultimately leading to his demise.
- Beatrice: Alonso’s cousin and the object of his affection. She is a beautiful young woman, but her cold and calculating nature suggests a manipulative side.
- Other Characters: The story features a cast of supporting characters, including counts, servants, hunters, Templars, and gentlemen.
Moonbeam
Set in Soria, the legend of Moonbeam intertwines themes of love, dreams, and fantasy. Manrique, a solitary poet, seeks solace in secluded places where his imagination runs wild. It is in one such place that he encounters a vision of his”beloved” a beautiful woman who haunts his thoughts.
Plot Summary
- Approach: On a moonlit night, Manrique chases after the ethereal woman, believing her to be real. However, his pursuit leads him to a cloister, where he finds nothing.
- Node: Leaving the cloister, Manrique heads towards a mall, where he catches a fleeting glimpse of what appears to be his love’s reflection. He chases after it, but it suddenly vanishes.
- Outcome: Manrique’s relentless pursuit culminates in a disheartening realization: the object of his affection was nothing more than a moonbeam.
The Kiss
Set during the War of Independence (1808-1814), this legend takes us to a dilapidated convent in Toledo, where a young French dragoon officer is stationed with his troops. Captivated by the beauty of a marble statue depicting a lady named Elvira Castañeda, the officer becomes consumed by a jealous infatuation.
Determined to possess the statue’s beauty, the officer invites his fellow soldiers to an evening party at the convent. As the night progresses and the champagne flows freely, the officer’s infatuation intensifies. In a moment of drunken audacity, he challenges the statue of Elvira’s husband and attempts to kiss her. To the horror of his comrades, the stone knight retaliates, striking the officer dead with his gloved hand.
Maese Perez, the Organist
In the heart of Seville, at the convent of Santa Inés, lived Maese Perez, a blind organist renowned for his heavenly music. Despite his blindness, Maese Perez possessed an extraordinary gift, captivating audiences with his soul-stirring melodies.
As Christmas approached, Maese Perez fell gravely ill. Sensing his impending death, he yearned to play one last time at his beloved church. The Archbishop of Seville, recognizing the organist’s extraordinary talent, had previously invited him to play at the cathedral for midnight mass. However, Maese Perez’s deteriorating health prevented him from fulfilling this honor.
A jealous substitute organist was appointed to take Maese Perez’s place at the cathedral. On Christmas Eve, as the substitute struggled to replicate the blind organist’s brilliance, a miracle unfolded at the convent of Santa Inés. To everyone’s astonishment, the sound of Maese Perez’s unmistakable melodies filled the air, even though no one was at the organ. It was as if the spirit of the departed organist had returned to play one final time.
Green Eyes
This legend shares the same setting and protagonist as”Maese Perez, the Organist” It recounts the tale of Maese Perez, the blind organist of Seville, and his extraordinary gift for music.
Gold Bangle
This legend also shares the same setting and protagonist as”Maese Perez, the Organist” recounting the story of the blind organist and his enduring legacy.
The White Deer
Set in medieval Aragon, this legend tells the story of Don Dinis, an Aragonese nobleman, and his daughter, Constance. One day, while gathered with others, Don Dinis is told a peculiar tale of a white deer that seems to be protected by other deer. Intrigued by the story, Garcés, a young man in love with Constance, becomes determined to capture the white deer, believing it will win her heart.
Garcés embarks on a perilous quest, battling the elements and facing numerous challenges. Finally, he spots the white deer and, with a well-aimed arrow, strikes his target. However, to his horror, he discovers that it was not the deer he had shot but Constance, who had disguised herself as the white deer.
Theme
The legend explores the transformative power of love and the tragic consequences that can arise from misguided intentions.
The Skull Christ
Set against the backdrop of the Reconquista in Toledo, this legend revolves around a love triangle between three childhood friends: Agnes, Alonso, and Lopez. Both Alonso and Lopez are enamored with Agnes, leading to a bitter rivalry between them.
During a farewell party for troops departing for war, tensions between Alonso and Lopez reach a boiling point. They agree to a duel to the death, seeking to prove their worthiness of Agnes’s love. As they search for a suitable location for their confrontation, they stumble upon a lantern illuminating a crucifix with a skull at its base.
Each time they attempt to commence their duel, the lantern mysteriously extinguishes, only to relight moments later. Interpreting this as a sign from God, Alonso and Lopez abandon their duel and decide to let Agnes choose between them. However, upon returning to the palace, they are met with a shocking revelation: Agnes has taken another lover. Humiliated and heartbroken, Alonso and Lopez inform the soldiers, who respond with laughter at Agnes’s betrayal.
The Miserere
In a secluded abbey, a man discovers an ancient book containing a mysterious word he doesn’t recognize. Seeking its meaning, he consults an old man, who shares a chilling legend.
The legend tells of a musician who sought shelter in the abbey, claiming to be on a quest to complete the Miserere, a musical composition believed to grant forgiveness for sins. Intrigued, one of the monks reveals that they have heard the Miserere sung every night by the ghosts of monks who once resided in a nearby mountain monastery.
Determined to transcribe the Miserere, the musician ventures to the ruined monastery. As darkness falls, he witnesses a haunting spectacle: the skeletons of the deceased monks rise from their graves and arrange themselves in a line to sing the Miserere. Overwhelmed by the experience, the musician faints.
Upon regaining consciousness, the musician rushes back to the abbey and attempts to write down the Miserere. While he remembers the beginning, he finds it impossible to recall the ending. Driven to madness by his failure, the musician eventually dies, his quest left unfulfilled.
Features
Bécquer’s works are characterized by their:
- Social criticism
- Absurdist elements
- Realism
- Emphasis on feelings over reason
- Exploration of melancholy and despair
Literary Genre (Lyric Poetry)
Bécquer’s poetry is characterized by:
- Introspection and expression of personal feelings
- Brevity
- Subjectivity
- Use of the first person
- Stylistic elements that enhance beauty
Realistic Fiction
: The main theme of the novel is the conflict between the individual and society.
– It seeks to know the reason for the marginalization of the character within the
society.
– The center of the novel is the character who meets and expresses the features
general social group.
– Very many (mostly folkloric); meetings
casinos, street rallies, festivals …
– It’s a total representation of life, eliminating the fantastic.
– The author shows the misery and human interests of the time
becoming critical and judge, trying to improve society.
Theme: Mainly are derived from the bourgeois mentality: power, money, social influence. or political issues of today.
Characters: They reflect the changes and social tensions. Workers, beggars, politicians and the middle class.
Becher life historical context
– Poet
– Author of stories and legends
– Journalist
– Biographer
– Playwright
– Historian
– Literary and theater critic
Sentimental Author characteristic of Romanticism or the Second Period, also known as late Romanticism. It was an absolutely hectic century, a characteristic that is reflected in the romantic authors.
– Romance: It can be defined as a movement against neo-classicism, which gives preference to those feelings.
Born in Seville in 1836, and died in Madrid in 1870, shortly after the death of his brother Valeriano.
The life of Gustavo Adolfo Becquer, runs from shortly after the beginning of the regency of Queen Maria Cristina (wife of Fernando VII and mother of Elizabeth II), until the mid-six-year period or Revolutionary Liberal.
– Sexenio Liberal: This is the revolution that leads to the final overthrow of Isabel II and causes a period of six years without real power of the Bourbons, that since 1868 until 1874.
Becquer, was the one who saw the link, what would become the poetry (makes a great twist, typical of Baroque poetry.)
It is also characterized by a Banal Poetry ie, having little value or importance due to its lack of content.
Becquer internalized perfectly the romantic mind, in which poetry was a fantasy and internalization of what he wanted, not the living, the excitement of fantasy and imagination. Becquer was a romantic formal, ie present only in the form of rebellion and literary aesthetics. His art, with the most dramatic break (it in). It reflects the struggle of society, and breaks with the classical forms, as opposed to looking the opposite lines. Narrators blend different levels.
Despite its short life has left a legacy Bécquer very important in the future, becoming a major exponent of the romantic, perhaps, was one of the last of this literary movement.