Literary Trends in Late 19th Century Spain

Naturalism

Naturalism was a drift of Realism in France during the last decades of the 19th century. Its creator was Émile Zola, who presented his theory in works such as The Experimental Novel and Evenings of Médan.

• Naturalists relied on observation and experimentation.
• Topics covered were related to marginalization in all its aspects.
• They were interested in miserable and sad environments, and characters were often marginalized (alcoholics, 'morons', etc.).
• Technically, the authors' documentation and naturalistic observation were proclaimed by Realism.
• The writer's attitude toward reality was to be impartial.
• The end of the novel was moral: the writer aimed to improve society.

Naturalistic Novel in Spain

From 1883, when Emilia Pardo Bazán published a series of articles on the subject, The Throbbing Question, Zola's works were read successfully in Spain. Some authors like Galdós, Clarín, and Emilia Pardo Bazán were very influenced by Naturalism. Those deemed most representative of Naturalism were Emilia Pardo Bazán and Blasco Ibáñez.

Emilia Pardo Bazán

The Manor of Ulloa is considered her most representative work of Naturalism. Her works feature detailed descriptions of settings and characters, such as The Manor of Ulloa, The Tribune, and Mother Nature.

Vicente Blasco Ibáñez

In his novels, there is a confrontation of social classes and the pressure of the environment on the characters. Notable works include The Cabin, Reeds and Mud, Rice and Trap, and The Cathedral.

Poetry in the Second Half of the 19th Century

Subjectivism prevailed (except for the poetry of Bécquer and Rosalía). Two main trends can be seen:

• The prose-like poetry of Ramón de Campoamor and his work Humoradas.
• The rhetoricity of Gaspar Núñez de Arce and poetry inspired by political and civic issues. His work War Cries is a highlight.

Theater in the Mid-19th Century

A new realism emerged, reflecting the state of contemporary society. Three trends are distinguished:

High Comedy

Followed the tastes of the gentry. Highlights include Ventura de la Vega and his work The Man of the World, and Tamayo y Baus, with The Snowball or A New Drama.

Neo-Romantic Drama or Melodrama

José de Echegaray was the most prominent figure with works like The Great God Brown and Mad Galeotti. This was a theater in a rhetorical verse style.

Social Drama

Characters were not from the bourgeois classes. Enrique Gaspar was the precursor with The Circumstances. Joaquín Dicenta followed in his footsteps with Juan José and The Feudal Lord.

Popular Theater: Farce and Operetta

The Madrid farce recreated middle-class and lower-class environments. The operetta (zarzuela) or "género chico" introduced elements of customs, music, and folklore. Outstanding authors include Ricardo de la Vega (The Festival of the Dove) and López Silva (The Unruly).