The Life and Poetry of Antonio Machado
Antonio Machado: A Life in Poetry
The Generation of ’98
Writer Azorín first alluded to the Generation of ’98, designating a group of writers who shared concerns and attitudes of protest regarding Spain’s situation. Pio Baroja, Azorín, and Maeztu denounced this situation. Key characteristics of this generation include shared liberal political views, promoting ideological reforms, and a concern for the problem of Spain addressed from an intimate perspective. The Generation of ’98 was deeply impacted by the Disaster of 1898, which fueled their desolation and existential anxieties. Their literary style was based on natural language, advocating a sober anti-rhetoric.
Machado’s Life and Times
Antonio Machado was born in Seville in 1875. As a child, he moved with his family to Madrid, where he received a progressive education. In his early thirties, he began to gain recognition as a poet. In 1907, he secured a professorship, and in 1911, he traveled to Paris. His wife’s illness led them to return to Soria, where she tragically died, leaving a profound impact on Machado. He later moved to Baeza, where he studied philosophy and developed a radical political consciousness. In 1932, he moved to Madrid, where he sided with the Republican cause during the Spanish Civil War.
Machado’s Poetic Stages
Machado’s poetry can be classified into three stages:
- Symbolist Intimacy: Poems exploring themes of solitude and intimacy.
- Castilian Regenerationism: A focus on Castile and its landscapes.
- Philosophical and Aphoristic: A shift towards philosophical reflection and aphorisms.
Soledades
Machado’s first book, Soledades, reflects modernist and post-romantic influences. Themes of love, death, melancholy, and the passage of time are prominent. Dreams are presented as a means of inner knowing, and God appears in some poems. The landscape often mirrors the poet’s inner anguish. The path symbolizes human activity, and the mirror reflects the poet’s soul.
Campos de Castilla
Campos de Castilla, while retaining symbolic elements, reveals a subjective perspective on the Castilian landscape. The book includes cycles dedicated to Soria, Leonor (his deceased wife), and Baeza. Machado expresses his emotions through descriptions of the landscape and incorporates proverbs and songs. He also addresses the theme of two Spains: one representing a sterile and unjust past, and the other representing the hope for spiritual regeneration. The themes of time and death are amplified by Leonor’s passing.
Nuevas Canciones
In Nuevas Canciones, Machado introduces apocryphal writers like Abel Martin and Juan de Mairena to express his ideas. The book also features landscapes, sonnets to friends, and songs dedicated to Guiomar. Two groups of songs are particularly noteworthy.
Machado’s Style
Machado’s poetry is characterized by a variety of stanzas, a preference for romance and silva, and refined yet sober language. He favors defining adjectives and considers himself above metaphor.