The Life and Works of Miguel Hernandez: A Poetic Journey
The Social and Political Commitment of Miguel Hernandez
The socio-political climate at the end of the 19th century in Spain was stagnant. The oligarchy blocked any land reform, the conservative clergy remained immobile, and the dominant class was militaristic and authoritarian. Miguel Hernandez’s greatness lies in his unwavering commitment to defending the dignity of the working class and raising awareness about their potential for empowerment. The outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in July 1936 propelled him into deeper political engagement.
Hernandez recognized the transformative power of language and its social and political function. Solidarity became a central theme in his poetry. This commitment led him to craft poetry for the people—committed poetry, war poetry, and poetry that expressed solidarity with the oppressed. He viewed poetry as a weapon, echoing Gabriel Celaya’s later sentiment of it being “a gun loaded with the future.” This perspective shifted his focus from lyrical collections to epic narratives, where he assumed a prophetic role, proclaiming love for his country, educating his people about the fight for freedom and justice, and denouncing the oppressors.
This poetic function can be categorized into three aspects:
- Exaltation: Heroic celebration of those fighting for justice and freedom (e.g., “Winds of the People,” “Song of the Soldier Husband,” “Sweat,” “Rosario, Dynamite”).
- Lamentation: Mourning the victims of oppression (e.g., “Elegy First” [for Federico García Lorca], “Elegy Second” [for Pablo de la Torriente], “The Boy Yuntero,” “Aceituneros”).
- Malediction: Cursing the enemies, oppressors, and exploiters (e.g., “The Cowards,” “Cinderella Mussolini”).
Images and Symbols in Hernandez’s Poetry
Throughout Hernandez’s work, we observe a consistent poetic process where images and symbols are repeated and incorporated, building upon previous discoveries. He creates a unique intellectual world. The significance and intensity of these images and symbols evolve through four stages of his life and creative journey:
- Orihuela Stage: The poet focuses on nature, describing real objects in detail.
- Loving Stage: Objects of affection become metaphors for love and the inevitability of fate.
- War Stage: Images and symbols are magnified heroically, reflecting the value of loyalty and poetry during wartime.
- Final Stage: Characterized by the internalization of a destroyed history. Symbols represent the absence of freedom, love, justice, and brotherly love.
Despite these stages, certain symbols remain prominent: the moon, lightning, wind, light, shadow, and the bull.
- Moon: A central motif. Hernandez explores the moon in two senses: its natural form as observed by a shepherd and its artistic potential, where objects can be poetically reduced to lunar shapes. The moon symbolizes the creative process.
- Lightning: Initially associated with the moon’s roundness in Hernandez’s religious phase, it later transforms into a sharp, piercing image, representing the pain of love and grief. It becomes a symbol of rebellion and defiance.
- Bull: Drawing from his environment and the Spanish tradition, the bull initially appears in his love poetry. In his early compositions, he contrasts the bull with the ox, a castrated bull representing social and political subjugation.
Tradition and Vanguard in Hernandez’s Poetry
Hernandez’s primary inspiration stems from popular oral literature and tradition. However, his literary apprenticeship also involved imitating renowned classical and contemporary writers. The influence of tradition manifests in two ways:
- Literary Tradition: Classics of Spanish poetry and theater from the Golden Age and contemporary works.
- Oral Tradition: Rooted in anonymous folk poetry.
His work also reflects elements of:
- Pure poetry and literary Cubism.
- Surrealism.
Life and Legacy
Hernandez serves as a bridge between the Generation of ’27 and the Generation of ’36. His relationships with poets like Lorca, Alberti, and Aleixandre place him among them as a younger brother. He was friends with prominent artists and influenced by Pablo Neruda, who introduced him to communism. His close friend, Ramon Sijé, tried to dissuade him from this path. Sijé’s death in 1935 deeply affected Hernandez, who expressed his grief in an elegy that solidified his status as a poet.
Hernandez actively participated in the Spanish Civil War, defending the Republic and embodying the spirit of a poet of liberty. His poetry appears to emerge spontaneously, with many critics emphasizing the fundamental influence of nature on his work. This self-taught background contributes to his portrayal as a natural poet. Throughout his artistic development, he assimilated influences from other poets, yet his style remained strong, human, and deeply moving.