Realism and Naturalism in 19th Century Spain: A Literary Analysis

Realism and Naturalism

During the nineteenth century, two literary movements developed in Europe as a reaction against romantic idealism and individualism: Realism and Naturalism. In Spain, these currents emerged during the second half of the nineteenth century.

Historical and Social Context

The period was defined by significant instability and transition:

• The Revolutionary Sexennium (1868–1874): Characterized by constant changes in government.
• Bourbon Restoration (1875): Initiated a period of relative political and economic stability.

In Spain, as in the rest of Europe, the organization of society was the result of political and economic shifts triggered by the Industrial Revolution, which fostered a new economic landscape.

Social Reconfiguration

These changes led to a restructuring of society:

• The Bourgeoisie: Composed of business leaders, this class strengthened its dominance in society and the economy, striving to prevail in politics. Their rise was linked to major industrial and commercial development.
• The Nobility: Experienced a depletion of possessions and lost prominence in the new class-based society.
• The Working Class: Comprised of laborers in the fields and proletarians in factories. Industrial growth worsened working conditions, prompting workers to begin a long struggle for fairer social and economic organization.

Cultural Situation

European trends during this period shaped the cultural landscape:

• Scientific Advances: Significant progress occurred in research and the application of knowledge. Technological innovations, such as the railroad, the telegraph, and lighting, reached Spain by the mid-nineteenth century.
• Positivism: The optimism generated by scientific developments led to the emergence of positivism. This school of thought advocates for empirical observation and verification, rejecting anything that cannot be validated by experience.
• Scientific Theories: Two theories transformed the human perspective: Evolution, which maintains that living things result from an evolutionary process, and Determinism, which explains human behavior as a product of heredity and environment.