Evolution of Spanish Theater and Novels

Neoclassic Theater

Features of Neoclassic Theater

• Total separation of genres to avoid confusion.
• Submission to the rule of three units: one action, in one place, and set within 24 hours.
• Didactic purpose: useful items for society, practiced through education.
• Plausible approach in line with reality.
• Structuring of the play in three acts.

Genres and Key Works

• Tragedy: The major tragedy representative of this era is Vicente García de la Huerta's work Raquel.
• Comedy: Highlights Leandro Fernández de Moratín and his most famous work, El sí de las niñas (The Girls' Yes).

Romanticism and Romantic Theater

Features of Romanticism

• Individualism: Man seeks his own purposes.
• Cult of freedom: The individual proclaims their right to speech and individual liberty versus society, rejecting social and artistic rules. This romanticism leads to internal unrest and rebellion.
• Contradictions: Romantics look for an impossible happiness and clash with reality.
• Nationalism versus universalism: Opposing the universalism of the Enlightenment, Romanticism proclaims political nationalism.

Features of Romantic Theater

• Themes: Love and destiny, depicting an impossible love beyond good and evil.
• Characters: The hero is a mysterious, passionate theatrical figure, loving liberty and pursuing unattainable happiness.
• Formal aspects: The theater is characterized by its rejection of all rules.

Key Romantic Authors

• The Duke of Rivas: His most important work is Don Álvaro o la fuerza del sino (Don Alvaro or the Force of Destiny), in which the main issue is the fate of the protagonist. It is composed of 5 acts ("days") and begins with a costumbrista scene in prose.
• José Zorrilla: His works include El zapatero y el rey (The Shoemaker and the King) and his most famous play, Don Juan Tenorio, which remains the most popular romantic drama performed today on October 31, the Eve of All Saints.

The Realistic Novel

Features of the Realistic Novel

• Critical posture: Maintain a critical stance toward society.
• Contemporary themes: Develop questions and themes present in the contemporary environment, especially concerning the middle class.
• Plausible environments: Create atmosphere and describe plausible, objective environments that reflect the surroundings in which the characters live.
• Plausible characters: Describe characters in an equally plausible manner.
• Narrative techniques:
  • Observation of reality as scientific material.
  • A faithful description of the environment and the character of the characters to give credence to the story.
  • Objective narrative with an omniscient narrator.
  • Use of an austere language and style by the narrator.

Key Realistic Authors

• Juan Valera: Stands out with Pepita Jiménez and Juanita la Larga.
• Benito Pérez Galdós: The great figure of Spanish Realism. He highlights the Episodios Nacionales (National Episodes). His novels are structured in three different periods:
  1. Doña Perfecta
  2. Contemporary novels such as Fortunata y Jacinta and Miau
  3. Spiritual and symbolic novels like El abuelo (The Grandfather) and Misericordia (Mercy)

Naturalism in Literature

Features and Authors of Naturalism

• Themes: Focuses on issues such as human misery, corruption, mental illnesses, alcoholism, etc.
• Environments: Sad, negative, dull, and grim settings.
• Narrative techniques: Employs the same techniques as Realism.
• Principal authors:
  • Emilia Pardo Bazán: Famous for Los pazos de Ulloa (The House of Ulloa).
  • Vicente Blasco Ibáñez: Known for La barraca (The Cabin) or Cañas y barro (Reeds and Mud).