Renaissance Literary Movements: Prose, Humanism, and Early Drama

Renaissance Literature and Thought

The Prose of Renaissance Thought

The Renaissance marked a significant shift in worldview from the Middle Ages, leading to a surge in philosophical and intellectual prose.

Key European Thinkers

The most influential thinkers originating from Italy include Niccolò Machiavelli and Baldassare Castiglione.

• Niccolò Machiavelli wrote The Prince. This seminal work argues that the end justifies the means and posits that state power transcends traditional ethical values.
• Baldassare Castiglione wrote The Courtier, a work that stimulated and influenced many subsequent thinkers.
• The Dutch humanist Erasmus of Rotterdam attempted to reconcile classical culture with Christian religious thought.
• The English writer Thomas More wrote Utopia, a theoretical work describing a perfect state and society.
• The Frenchman Michel de Montaigne analyzed the society of his time in his influential Essays.

Renaissance Prose in Spain

Historical Prose

• Bernal Díaz del Castillo, the prototype of the soldier-writer, authored History of the Conquest of New Spain.
• Fray Bartolomé de las Casas wrote A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies.

Didactic Prose

The primary aim of didactic prose was to propose and teach a new model of man, rooted in the moral values championed by Renaissance humanists.

Notably, Fray Antonio de Guevara wrote Contempt of Court and Praise of Village.

The Literary Dialogue

This form is based on the exposition of ideas. The most important example of dialogue written in the vernacular language is attributed to Juan de Valdés.

The Renaissance Theater

Origins of Spanish Renaissance Drama

Sixteenth-century Spanish drama originated primarily from the Italian Renaissance theater.

The most representative forms were the Commedia dell'arte and the Italian comedy.

The Commedia dell'arte

• It was a spectacle characterized by entanglement and love affairs.
• Its primary purpose was to provoke laughter.
• It was based on a previous script (scenario) from which actors would improvise.
• The characters (stock characters) were consistent across performances.

Forms of Italian Comedy

• Comedy of Manners: This form criticized aspects of society. Its influence was reflected in Spain by authors like Lope de Rueda, and notably by Niccolò Machiavelli with his play La Mandragora.
• Comedy of Intrigue: This type aimed to capture the viewer's attention through surprising intrigue. This form significantly influenced the work of Torres Naharro.

Bartolomé de Torres Naharro: Theatrical Principles

In Propaladia, the collection where his works are gathered, Torres Naharro shared his foundational ideas on theater:

• Theater is a spectacle and must be written to be represented, not merely read.
• The tragic and the comic elements can be mixed.
• The plot (argument) must aim to entertain and amuse.
• There should be a maximum of twelve characters and five acts.

Classification of Torres Naharro's Comedies

• Comedias "a noticia" (Comedies of News): These are realistic and satirical works of simple structure, such as Tinelaria and Soldadesca.
• Comedias "a fantasía" (Comedies of Fantasy): These feature fabulous and imaginative arguments, such as Himenea and Aquilana.

Lope de Rueda: Pioneer of Spanish Theater

• His best-known works are short, farcical plays called pasos (steps). Notable examples include Las Aceitunas (The Olives) and Pagar y no Pagar (To Pay and Not to Pay).
• He wrote in prose and utilized the language of the street, always with a comic purpose.