Modernism and the Crisis of the 19th Century in Spain

Modernism: Key Features

Key Features: Modernists embraced beauty in all forms, focusing on creating beautiful objects and spaces, and expressing intense feelings and emotions. They contrasted vulgarity with the aristocratic, often symbolized by the swan. Their rejection of the reality they inhabited led to a fascination with the past (classical world, myths, medieval, Renaissance, 18th century, and Hispanic past) and distant, exotic lands.

Issues at the End of the Century

Issues at the End of the Century: Spain faced a profound political and social crisis in the late 19th century, culminating in the Disaster of 1898 (Spain's military defeat by the U.S. after the Cuban insurrection), which resulted in the loss of its last colonial possessions (Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines) and its international standing. Writers of the time reacted to this situation, reflecting on the causes of decline in their works. They later idealized Spanish landscapes, particularly Castilla, as well as its history and classical literary and artistic achievements.

Antonio Machado

Antonio Machado: "Poetry is the essential word in time" (emphasizing formal simplicity). "Poetry is a dialogue of man with his time" (highlighting commitment).

Works

• Soledades: Abundant ornamentation, themes of death, vaguely patriotic, imaginary landscapes.
• Campos de Castilla: Scarcity of ornamentation, themes of death, Spain, existence, patriotic, historical time, real landscape interpretation.

Themes

1. Death
2. The passage of time and the discourse of life
3. Sadness for what is lost
4. The Country Girl
5. The feeling of loneliness, lack of love, and desire
6. Women: abstract (studs: Lions and Guiomar)
7. Erotic notes, boredom, monotony of living
8. Reality and Desire
9. The Problem of God
10. The Problem of Spain
11. The existential problem

Symbols

• Passage of time: childhood, evening, passing seasons, flowing water, roads
• Monotony: Ferris wheel, the world of children
• Death: bells, cemeteries, cypresses, standing water (lakes, ponds, sea)
• Life: dream, rivers, poetry and poets, bees (poets), hive, honey (poem)

Valle-Inclán and the Grotesque

Valle-Inclán: The grotesque is a literary technique that tackles serious issues from a burlesque perspective. By combining the seriousness of the issues with laughter, the grotesque emerges.