Modernism and the Generation of '98: Literary Evolution

Modernism: Aesthetic Beauty and Reality

Modernism prioritizes aesthetic beauty, often seeking an evasion of reality. It draws inspiration from luxurious, refined, or exotic past civilizations and cosmopolitan urban spaces. Subjects are deeply rooted in expressed feelings, utilizing symbolic elements such as the swan. The prose is characterized by poetic, musical, sensory, and evocative imagery.

The Generation of '98: Spanish Identity

The authors of the Generation of '98 cultivated the essay and the novel to address the decadence of the country and existential concerns. These fin de siècle writers reacted to the national situation by reflecting on Spain's decline. They later idealized and reflected positively on the landscapes of Castile, history, and classic artistic and literary works.

Existential Angst and Themes

These authors infused their works with painful, personal reflections on:

• Human destiny
• The passage of time
• Religious belief
• The pain of living
• Death

These were recurrent themes in their essays, poems, and novels. To translate these ideas, they moved away from grandiloquence toward simplicity and rigor, contributing to the renovation of literary language.

Key Authors and Their Contributions

Pio Baroja

Baroja presents narratives full of realistic characters living in plausible environments. His novels reflect a fierce struggle to survive in a hostile world, criticizing the man of action who has lost faith in change.

Ramon Maria del Valle-Inclán

Valle-Inclán utilized esperpento to distort reality, animalizing characters and stripping them of their human condition. He mixed delicate, lyrical language with vulgar expressions to denounce the social and political reality of Spain.

Jacinto Benavente

A successful playwright who promoted comedy and realistic dialogue to provide social criticism, effectively breaking with the traditions of the previous century.

Miguel de Unamuno

In his essays, Unamuno alternated between existential reflection and meditation on Spain. His novels prioritize philosophical and intellectual content over plot, featuring abundant inner dialogues and monologues.

Antonio Machado

Machado is noted for his search for the essence of things, with the sea frequently associated with the concept of death.