Literary Movements: From Realism to Modernism in Spain
Realism in 19th-Century Spanish Literature
By 1870, the romantic taste for literature declined as the public began to prefer works dealing with contemporary issues that reflected the concerns and lifestyles of people in everyday circumstances. Between 1870 and 1880, Realism emerged as the expression of the dominant mentality of the liberal bourgeoisie. This movement is characterized by:
- Observation of reality: Prioritizing rational analysis.
- Literary likelihood: Building a narrative that mirrors real life.
- Objectivity: Focusing on daily events, though writers often included personal critiques.
- Psychological depth: Characterizing the inner world of individuals in relation to society.
- Structured narratives: Typically following an approach, knot, and outcome.
- Simple style: Utilizing common language.
Key Authors of Spanish Realism
Juan Valera practiced a form of realism that was more psychological than social. His novels, such as Pepita Jiménez and Juanita la Larga, were highly successful in Andalusia. They convey the idea that pain and frustration stem from inordinate desires for happiness and the idealism instilled by Romanticism.
Benito Pérez Galdós was a prolific novelist whose extensive work evolved through three distinct stages:
- First Stage: Early novels used as propaganda tools for liberalism.
- Second Stage: Contemporary Spanish novels such as Doña Perfecta, La desheredada, and Fortunata y Jacinta, focusing on the inner world of characters.
- Third Stage: A more spiritual character, featuring enigmatic figures, as seen in Misericordia.
Naturalism and Its Influence
Naturalism is a literary movement that proposes the novel act as a testbed for human conduct. Leopoldo Alas 'Clarín' wrote what is considered an authentic masterpiece of Spanish literature within this movement. Emilia Pardo Bazán introduced Naturalism to Spain, though she did not fully accept its scientific doctrine. Her best-known works, Los pazos de Ulloa and La madre naturaleza, are set in rural Galicia and reflect the society of that time.
Modernism in Hispanic Literature
In the late 19th century, writers such as José Martí and Rubén Darío created a new language that reacted against the materialism and vulgarity of the modern world. This esteticista movement cultivated art, the exotic, and sentimentalism.
The Poetry of Rubén Darío
Poets were inspired by distant, exotic worlds and elementary impulses. Rubén Darío’s work is noted for:
- Originality: A preference for bright themes and amazing imagery.
- Technical Mastery: A select vocabulary and innovative metrics.
- Evolution: His early books, Azul... and Prosas profanas, gave way to a more intimate tone in Cantos de vida y esperanza.
These topics eventually brought the movement closer to the writers of the Generation of '98.