19th Century Spanish Literature: Realism, Naturalism, Key Authors

Historical Context: The Reign of Isabella II

The reign of Isabella II began in 1833 with the support of the liberals and lasted until 1868, ending with the first revolution against the monarchy. The last 30 years of the 19th century encompassed the Sexenio Democrático, the Bourbon Restoration, and the Disaster of '98.

Literature: Structuralism and Modernism

In the second half of the 19th century, two new literary currents emerged: Realism and Naturalism.

Realism

Realism originated in France in 1848. Its main characteristics are:

• Objectivity: The artistic work aims to accurately reflect reality and its characters.
• Lifelike Characters: Characters seem taken from real life, described with psychological complexity.
• Recognizable Scenarios: Readers can identify with the described settings, such as interiors, houses, streets, and cafes, depicted with great detail.
• Social Themes: The works manifest the interests, conflicts, and feelings of diverse social classes.
• Adaptive Language: Language adapts to the characters.
• Omniscient Narrator

Naturalism

Naturalism emerged in the late 19th century, with French writer Émile Zola as its main proponent. This current immediately sparked controversy due to its similarities and differences with Realism.

• Experimental Methods: Application of scientific methods, emphasizing the importance of heredity and environment.
• Unpleasant Realities: Depiction of sordid and unpleasant aspects of reality.
• Marginal Characters: Focus on marginalized individuals.

Benito Pérez Galdós

Born in Las Palmas. He studied law in Madrid, where he also lived and wrote many of his representative works. His work spans the last third of the 19th and the early 20th centuries. His novels reflect a progressive and liberal mentality. Key characteristics of his work include:

• Portrayal of all social classes, especially the middle class.
• Characters that convey everyday life problems.
• Progressive ideology.
• Language that often reflects street usage.
• Omniscient narrator.
• Alternation of narrative and dialogue.

Leopoldo Alas, Clarín

Born in Zamora in 1852 but lived most of his life in Oviedo. He described the main features characterizing his novels:

• Based on reality.
• Well-portrayed characters.
• Natural, simple, and modest language.
• Recreation of the surrounding atmosphere.
• Moral intention.

La Regenta

Published in the mid-1880s, its importance was not recognized until years after the author's death. Ana, the protagonist, after an unhappy childhood, marries Victor Quintanar, a much older judge, without being in love. Frustrated by her husband's lack of attention, she is courted by the city's Don Juan. Ana, a sensitive woman, maintains a relationship with Mesía, who is later beaten and killed in a duel with Don Victor. The hypocritical society condemns Ana to complete isolation. The action unfolds in the provincial town of Vetusta (a fictionalized Oviedo), the setting where all social classes of the second half of the 19th century interact.