18th Century Literature: Poetry, Theater, and Essays
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18th Century Poetry
In the early 18th century, poetry followed the Baroque style, using similar meters like sonnets and artless forms, imitating great poets of the 17th century such as Góngora and Quevedo. Themes included love and satire.
Around 1750, neoclassical lyricism emerged, developing other types of poetry:
- Rococo: Focused on feminine love and beauty, often using anacreontic forms, exemplified by Meléndez Valdés.
- Philosophical: Explored humanity and progress.
- Emotional: Expressed intense emotions, often with pessimism.
18th Century Neoclassical Theater
The 18th century, known for the Enlightenment, saw theater as less prominent. While Baroque principles were still present, the neoclassical period became dominant. This style emphasized clarity, sobriety, and naturalness, aiming to educate. It adhered to the three unities (action, time, and place) and sought verisimilitude. The number of characters was reduced, and staging was precise.
Common dramatic subgenres included:
- Tragedy
- Comedy
- Sentimental comedy
A representative author is Leandro Fernández de Moratín, who wrote, among other works, The Girls' Consent.
The Girls' Consent
This neoclassical comedy defends the idea that marriages should be based on free choice and age similarity. The play is set in an inn in Alcalá de Henares and takes place over a few hours.
It tells the story of Doña Paquita, 16, who is in love with a young soldier, Don Carlos, the nephew of Don Diego. Don Diego is an older man whom Paquita's mother, Doña Irene, had arranged for her to marry. Ultimately, the uncle, upon learning of the love between Paquita and Carlos, renounces his claim and allows them to marry. This highlights the flaws in the educational practices of the time.
18th Century Essay
The essay, a reflective text expressing an opinion on some aspect of reality, was the predominant genre in the 18th century, sometimes appearing within a fictional framework.
Notable works include:
- The writings of Feijoo (Teatro Crítico Universal and Cartas Eruditas y Curiosas)
- The discourses of Jovellanos
Cadalso's Moroccan Letters are an example of an essay within a fictional framework. In this work, the writer uses an epistolary format to offer three perspectives on Spain:
- Nuño, a Spaniard who judges his country from within.
- Gazel, a young Moroccan traveling through Spain, who explains what he sees.
- Ben-Beley, an old Moroccan sage who judges the information from a universal perspective.