Realism and Naturalism in Spanish Literature

Realism in Spain: Historical Context

Historical, Cultural, and Ideological Foundations

The date of 1868, which coincides with the historical event of La Gloriosa (the removal of the monarchy of Isabel II) and the bourgeois revolution in Spain—leading to the 1869 Constitution and later the First Spanish Republic (1873)—marks the beginning of Realism in Spain. Realism is therefore closely linked to the bourgeoisie; it is the literary movement associated with this class. With this movement came a new literary genre: the realistic novel, which became the protagonist. However, the heyday of Realism in Spain occurred during the period of the Restoration.

Regional Trends and the Thesis Novel

Spanish Realism has a marked regional trend. Each writer is closely related to their land:

• J. M.ª Pereda: Santander
• Juan Valera: Andalusia
• B. P. Galdós: Madrid
• Leopoldo Alas, Clarín: Asturias (Oviedo)
• Emilia Pardo Bazán: Galicia

The author incorporates their ideas into one or more characters in the work, resulting in the thesis novel.

Naturalism: Scientific Method in Literature

Naturalism is a literary movement derived from Realism. It was created by the French novelist Émile Zola, who applied 19th-century scientific theories to the novel, specifically biological determinism (influenced by Darwin) and the role of the environment in shaping the character and conduct of individuals. These behaviors are determined by biological inheritance and the social and cultural environment in which the individual has developed.

The Role of the Naturalist Novelist

The novelist must not only show reality but also discover the mechanisms of human behavior. To demonstrate these ideas, the novelist must collect data and conduct experiments. To prove his theory, Zola focused on the observation of degenerate environments of the time: the mentally ill, alcoholics, and prostitutes. He also performed a detailed characterization of the characters' psychology, determined by family inheritance and the environmental and socio-cultural factors in which the character was raised.

Key Principles of Naturalism

1. The experimental study of man replaced the abstract, metaphysical man, focusing instead on the natural man, subjected to physical and chemical laws and determined by the influence of the environment.
2. The Naturalistic element is not found in the words, but in the method.
3. In the Naturalistic novel, there is no well-invented fable developed according to certain rules. The plot matters little to the novelist. It takes just the story of a being or group of beings from real life whose actions are recorded with ease. The new novel is far from being a work of entertainment.
4. The novelist does not intervene; they are impersonal. They are merely a clerk who does not judge or draw conclusions. They must comply with the observed facts.
5. The language must be natural. The novelist must blend with the character's personality.
6. The Naturalist writer details reality, not for pleasure, but because man cannot be separated from his environment, his external appearance, his home, or his people.
7. In addition to personal expression, the greatest strength of the novelist is their own sense of reality that allows them to experience nature and render it as it is. It consists of looking at life and giving an accurate impression of it.