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The 17th Century in Spain: A Period of Transformation

Economic and Political Landscape

The 17th century in Spain, under the rule of the Austrias (Philip III, Philip IV, and Charles II), was a period marked by significant decline and continuous military conflicts with other European powers. Monarchs inherited a country teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. By the end of the century, Spain had lost its hegemony and experienced population stagnation.

Economically, Spain was predominantly rural (approximately 80%). The largely illiterate peasant population faced widespread disappointment and discontent. A powerful and dominant noble class further exacerbated social inequalities. The era was also plagued by devastating epidemics, including the plague,... Continue reading "Spanish Golden Age: 17th Century Society, Art, and Literature" »

Spanish theater faced significant restrictions due to the new socio-political situation following the Civil War. Many intellectuals went into exile, and a rigid censorship was established on all performances, though it softened over time. The rise of cinema, and later television, drew the public, primarily the bourgeoisie, away from the theaters, leading to what is often referred to as the 'crisis of theater'.

The 1940s and Early 1950s

The initial years following the Civil War were characterized by low literary production. Writers largely kept themselves apart from overt political and ideological influence, focusing instead on human themes. Three main currents emerged:

• Bourgeois Comedy: These plays featured elaborate theatrical constructions,

Spanish Romanticism and Costumbrismo

Key Authors and Works

• Ramón de Mesonero Romanos: Known for costumbrista works like Escenas Matritenses.
• José de Larra: Famous for his critical "Articles" ("Artículos"), including El castellano viejo and Vuelva usted mañana.
• Serafín Estébanez Calderón: Wrote Escenas Andaluzas.

Early European Influences

Spanish Romanticism was influenced by European figures such as Chateaubriand, Henry Fielding, Daniel Defoe, and Sir Walter Scott. Lyrical influences include Lord Byron, while Victor Hugo impacted theater, and Alexandre Dumas influenced novels with works like The Count of Monte Cristo and The Three Musketeers.

Notable Romantic Writers

• José de Larra: Also noted for his youthful contributions.
• Enrique Gil y Carrasco:

Romantic Theater

Romanticism pretended to be a drama that could shake the audience. People are represented by protagonists with a hovering mystery.

Characteristics

• The focus is usually love.
• The outcome combines the tragic and the comical, verse and prose.
• Use of measured action.
• The action transpires in different places and scenarios, and temporal skips can occur.
• Secondary actions.

The Student of Salamanca

Félix de Montemar, a Don Juan, seduces and abandons Elvira, provoking her death. Following a mysterious woman, Félix contemplates his own funeral and is brought to the "somber mansion". There, he discovers the lady is but the skeleton of Elvira, with whom Montemar marries before dying.

José de Espronceda

(1808-1842) was born in Almendralejo (Badajoz)... Continue reading "Romanticism in Spanish Literature: Authors and Works" »

Spanish Theater: 1940 to Today

The harsh conditions following the Spanish Civil War significantly impacted literary creation. The theater experienced an intense crisis, with authors becoming scarce due to strict censorship.

Triumphant Theater in the Postwar Period

The triumphant theater in the immediate postwar period suggests a clear continuity with the forms and dramatic themes that existed before the Spanish Civil War. This era includes authors who viewed theatrical shows in the style of Jacinto Benavente, Jose Maria Pemán, Luca de Tena, and Calvo Sotelo. Besides high comedy, the dramatic landscape of the postwar period shows a clear trend toward humor in theater. The most outstanding representatives are Jardiel Poncela and Miguel Mihura.

Jardiel

Literary Texts

Literary texts allow us to affirm their literariness. The issuer can be an external circuit to the internal one of the author and may or may not be the author. The receptor, the reader, in every literary work is created by the implied reader within the work itself. Communication in literature presents differences because the receptor is also an issuer, and they are in different communication situations.

The literary message differs from other texts because its sole purpose is not practical. The literary character of a work creates a new reality, a different world, not a real one. The reader considers it true or false according to their task.

The ordering of contents is conditioned by the modes of discourse (narrative, description,... Continue reading "Characteristics of Literary and Argumentative Texts" »

20th-Century Hispanic Theater

Early 20th-Century Theater

The Decade of the 1950s

Theater of the Absurd

Humor is used to escape a society full of contradictions and with little freedom.

Social realism, with works like A Straight Story (1949) by Antonio Buero Vallejo and Death Squad by Alfonso Sastre, addressed problems from a committed social position.

Theater of the 1960s

Commercial theater: Alfonso Paso and Jaime de Armiñán.

Committed and innovative theater, criticizing social problems while seeking new forms of expression.

Works: Laura by Jesús Campos, The Elm-Shirt by Lauro Olmo, Pic-nic by Fernando Arrabal, and works by Antonio Gala.

Theater of the 1940s

Ideological drama: Jacinto Benavente and Carlos Arniches.

Comedy intended to distract the public... Continue reading "20th-Century Hispanic Theater and Literature: A Deep Dive" »

Lazarillo de Tormes: Birth of Picaresque Genre

In 1554, The Life of Lazarillo de Tormes and His Fortunes and Adversities was published. Published anonymously, it is narrated in the first person, taking the form of a letter from Lázaro de Tormes to a high-ranking individual, "Your Excellency." Lázaro recounts his life from birth until the moment of writing the book. Many consider Lazarillo de Tormes the first manifestation of the picaresque genre. It presents the typical structure of this genre:

• The protagonist, Lázaro, narrates his own life.
• He is the son of parents without honor.
• He uses small thefts and tricks to survive.
• Success and failure alternate in his life; when he seems to have achieved something, he often returns to his downfall.
• He

Vicent Andrés Estellés

Life and work are intertwined for Vicent Andrés Estellés. The death of his daughter deeply impacted his writing. Professional recognition, such as the Award of Honour of Catalan Letters and early retirement, marked his career. He studied journalism in Madrid, where he wrote his first verses, and worked as an editor for Las Provincias. The publication of Llibre de meravelles (Book of Wonders) in 1971 was an immediate success.

Estellés' language draws from three sources: classical tradition, colloquial Valencian, and legal terminology. He employs a series of 'anti-poetic' words, including vulgarisms.

The poetic 'I' is a significant element, offering insights into the author's biography.

His forms, tones, and structures... Continue reading "Vicent Andrés Estellés, Joan Rois de Corella, and Joan Fuster: Key Valencian Writers" »

Realism and Naturalism in 19th-Century Literature

The 19th century witnessed significant literary shifts in Europe. The bourgeoisie consolidated its power, often funded by the aristocracy, leading to new social dynamics reflected in literature and philosophy.

Realism: Reflecting Reality

• Literature: Realism aimed to reflect reality. The novel, often epic in scope, depicted the transformations and "avatars" of a new social class.
• Philosophy: Positivism, a contemporary philosophical movement, proposed experimentation and rigorous observation as the foundation for real knowledge.

Aesthetic Characteristics of Realism

• Style

  Simple and clear prose, reflecting the authentic speech of people from different social classes.

• Criticism of Society

  Often portrayed