19th Century Spain: Industrial Change and Literary Realism

The Second Half of the Nineteenth Century: Socioeconomic Transformations

The second half of the nineteenth century saw socioeconomic transformations throughout Europe, brought about by the Industrial Revolution. These changes marked the consolidation of the bourgeoisie, the appearance of the working class, and the rise of the trade union movement, socialism, Marxism, and anarchism.

Spain in the Late Nineteenth Century

In the case of Spain, the second half of the nineteenth century began during the reign of Isabel II. Her reign erupted in 1868 with the Glorious Revolution (La Gloriosa), which forced the royal family into exile. This opened the Revolutionary Six Years (Sexenio Democrático), during which the First Republic was proclaimed.

In 1875, the Bourbon monarchy was restored in the person of Alfonso XII, son of Isabel II. This began an epoch known as the Restoration, an attempt that ultimately failed to resolve the serious socioeconomic problems afflicting Spain.

Features of Realistic Literature

Realism replaced the sentimental exaltation and imaginative deployment of Romantic literature with observation and accurate representation of the environment. Its intention was not to evade reality or create unattainable ideals, as Romanticism did, but rather to portray society critically, aiming to transform and improve it through literature.

The Realist Novel

Guided by this perspective, realist authors considered the novel the most suitable literary genre for their purposes. Mostly belonging to the bourgeoisie, they found their interests and concerns represented within this form.

Key Characteristics of the Realist Novel:

• Reality and Interest in the Everyday: Novelists replaced the historical settings of Romanticism with contemporary social issues and characters.
• Contemporary Social Treatment: Dealt with conflicting social and political issues, including differences between classes and the living conditions of the working class.
• Search for Objectivity and Realism: The author's intention was to build a literary world that was true to the reality represented.
• Critical Presence of the Author: The author expresses opinions through the narrator.
• Use of the Omniscient Narrator: This allowed the author to analyze the thoughts and emotions of the characters.
• Simple and Clear Style: The language used is precise and clear, aiming for objectivity.
• Meticulous Recreation of Dialogue: Dialogue is of great importance as it portrays the way characters speak according to their social class.