Key Characteristics of the Generation of '98

Core Features of the Generation of '98

• Distinguishing Real Spain: A focus on the contrast between the "miserable" reality of Spain and the "apparent" official version. Their concern for Spanish identity fueled the debate on the "Being of Spain" for subsequent generations.
• Love for Castile: A deep interest in the "miserable" and dusty abandoned towns of Castile. They revalued the landscape, traditions, language, and spontaneous "castizo" spirit, documenting this through travel books and the study of literary myths and ballads.
• Literary Innovation: They broke the mold of classic genres by creating new forms: the nivola of Unamuno, the impressionist and lyrical novels of Azorín, the open and fragmented narratives of Baroja, and the theatrical, cinematic style of Valle-Inclán.
• Aesthetic Shift: They rejected the rhetoric and elaborate style of realism, preferring language closer to the street. They utilized shorter, impressionistic syntax and recovered traditional, peasant vocabulary.
• European Philosophical Influence: They sought to integrate European irrationalist currents, particularly the works of Nietzsche and Bergson, into Spanish thought.
• Critical Pessimism: A pervasive sense of pessimism and critical attitude led them to sympathize with the discontented Romantic, Mariano José de Larra.
• Regenerationist Ideology: They shared the views of regenerationists like Joaquín Costa, expressing these ideas through subjective art.

Stylistic and Thematic Elements

The authors of this generation were defined by their reaction against the bombastic rhetoric and prosaism of previous literature. They sought a sober, direct, and authentic style, prioritizing clarity and precision in their prose.

Key Literary Traits

• Linguistic Revival: They incorporated obsolete words into their writing, viewing them as a heritage to be preserved.
• Subjective Vision: Their work is characterized by a sentimental, lyrical intonation, often associating the mood of the landscape with the internal state of the author. The barren Castilian plateau serves as a symbol of decadence.

Main Themes

• Existential Concerns: Life, death, the meaning of existence, and the passage of time are central themes, most notably in the works of Unamuno.
• Religious Perspectives: There is no unanimity regarding religion; positions range from the fervent Catholicism of Maeztu, to the agnosticism of Azorín and Baroja, and the profound doubts of Unamuno.