Literary Analysis: 18th and 19th Century Spanish Literature

18th Century: Neoclassicism and Enlightenment

This work belongs to the 18th century, a period known as Neoclassicism, also referred to as the Age of Enlightenment. This era exalted reason as the sole means to guide people towards progress and happiness. Literature became a crucial vehicle for transmitting enlightened ideas. However, the 18th century was not entirely uniform.

Key Observations: Character and Structure

• The character of Doña Irene particularly caught my attention. She appeared to be an overly greedy lady who pursued only personal goals. Despite her family's poverty, her ambition was to secure a wealthy marriage for her daughter, Doña Paquita. She seemed indifferent to her daughter's thoughts and feelings, focusing solely on her own interests. Her egocentric nature was also striking; she constantly spoke about her own achievements and experiences.
• Doña Francisca (Paquita) is also noteworthy because she remains silent and does not express her true feelings or thoughts about her marriage to Don Diego until the very end of the play, simply wishing to make her mother happy.
• The play's focus on a single night in one place regarding its space and time was also striking, a dramatic convention a young person is not accustomed to seeing in a play.

19th Century: Romanticism and Bécquer

This work belongs to the 19th century, a period known as Romanticism. This was a time when the bourgeoisie replaced the nobility, gaining significant power, and industries were established in cities. Romanticism was a cultural movement that developed in Europe during the first half of the 19th century, representing an aesthetic and ideological revolution.

Most Striking Aspects of Bécquer's Work

• The use of a rigid structure and moments of reflection within dialogues caught my attention.
• The incorporation of religious verses, a significant characteristic of Romanticism.
• The idealization of women, not as a specific type, but as an unattainable ideal that one will never find.
• Almost every rhyme features a comparison, such as between the harp and poetry, or with nature.
• Many of his rhymes contain ellipses, inviting the reader's imagination. Unanswered questions, or rhetorical questions, are also used to prompt reader reflection.
• He frequently employs irony.