Bourgeoisie Consolidation and the Rise of Realism

The Consolidation of the Bourgeoisie

The consolidation of the bourgeoisie became a reality, leading to a conservatism aimed at protecting its interests against the popular classes. The revolutions of 1848 exemplified the split between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. In 1848, The Communist Manifesto was published, which inaugurated Marxism and defined the social relations and class struggle between the two groups.

Bourgeois Society and Artistic Influence

The bourgeoisie developed its daily life in the cities, which served as the most faithful reflection of the duality between the upper classes and disadvantaged sectors. Both realities inspired Realism and Naturalism, as the bourgeoisie demanded stories that reflected their society. The Industrial Revolution did not fully take off until 1850. The triumph of the bourgeoisie and technical developments led to an optimistic view of the world and the triumph of progress. These ideas influenced Realism and Naturalism, as artistic creation became a scientific fact.

Realistic Narrative

The narrative genre was the most cultivated form of Realism, considered the best way to describe the reality observed by writers of the era.

Features of Realistic Narrative

• Likelihood: The story must be credible.
• Real Characters: Heroes left behind romanticism to draw from everyday life.
• Thematic: Focus on social conflicts within the company.
• Timeframe: Contemporary settings using narrative techniques like in medias res.
• Spatial Framework: Based on exhaustive observation and documentation.
• Style: Characterized by the presence of contrasts.

Novel of Manners

The novel of manners remains a key feature to show different ways of life, landscapes, and social layers.

Main Features

• Introduction of idealized characters and scenes.
• Taste for the local and the picturesque.
• Use of everyday language.

Poetry

Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer and Rosalía de Castro are the highest representatives, despite the prosaic nature of the era. Other figures include Ramón de Campoamor and the rhetoricism of Gaspar Núñez de Arce.

Theatre

The top playwrights of the period are Manuel Tamayo y Baus and José de Echegaray.