Key Figures and Themes of the Generation of 1898

The Generation of '98: Crisis and Renewal

The Generation of '98 emerged as a critique of the profound political and social crisis Spain faced following the disaster of 1898. Beyond analyzing the causes of national decline, these writers idealized the Spanish and Castilian landscapes, history, and classical artistic and literary figures. Their works poured personal reflections into themes of human destiny, the meaning of life, death, time, and religion. They sought a renewal of literary language through precise, accurate expression, favoring simplicity and rigor over ornamentation.

Antonio Machado

A poet whose work, Solitudes, Galleries and Other Poems, expresses existential angst through decadent landscapes where the poetic voice projects its inner state. Key symbols include:

• Afternoon/Wheel/Path: Passage of time
• Sea: Death
• Hives/Galleries: Creative poetry
• Dreams: True knowledge

Campos de Castilla addresses political and social issues, including poems lamenting the death of Leonor and deep philosophical reflections.

Miguel de Unamuno

A prose writer and philosopher who criticized the Spanish situation, suggesting the U.S. as a model to overcome social and scientific backwardness. His work centers on personal preoccupations, the meaning of life, and religious faith.

• Essays: Life of Don Quixote and Sancho, The Agony of Christianity, and Around the Chaotic Kind express reflections on Spain, the conflict between reason and faith, and immortality.
• Nivola: Mist, Abel Sanchez, and Aunt Tula, which prioritize dialogues and monologues.

Pio Baroja

A novelist whose philosophical concerns reflect the struggle for existence in a hostile, cruel world and a faith in changing society. His works are often grouped into trilogies, such as Zalacaín the Adventurer, The Tree of Knowledge, and The Struggle for Life. He is noted for the naturalness of his dialogue and his resilience.

Valle-Inclán

A playwright known for his Sonatas, which depict a decaying world. He developed the Esperpento style, which addresses serious issues through a burlesque lens. By animalizing people and objectifying reality, he uses vulgar expression to denounce social and political conditions. Notable works include Bohemian Lights and Divine Words.

Miguel Hernández

His early work, The Unceasing Lightning, shows baroque and avant-garde influences, expressing unrequited longing through surrealist images and symbols. During the war, his committed poetry championed the dignity of the people in struggle.

• The Man Mourning: Focuses on death, gloom, and the horrors of war.
• Songbook and Ballads of Absences: Written in jail, these poems explore themes of love, pain, the absence of his wife and son, and the lack of freedom, utilizing neopopularism.