Romanticism in 19th Century Europe and Spain: Key Figures

Romanticism: A 19th-Century European Movement

Romanticism originated in England and Germany during the late 18th century as a reaction against the Enlightenment. It challenged the prevailing confidence in reason and rationalism, which many felt had failed. This disillusionment fostered a sense of pessimism and a vindication of emotions, sentiments, and fantasy. The Romantic movement definitively broke with the Old Regime. In society, Romantic writers claimed freedom for the individual and evoked past and exotic times as a form of evasion from a present they disliked.

The First Half of the 19th Century

The French Revolution contributed to a new political, ideological, and social framework that spread across Europe. Simultaneously, the Industrial Revolution emerged, leading to the appearance of a new social class, the proletariat, and the consolidation of the bourgeoisie as the dominant class under capitalist economic doctrine.

In Spain, political tensions were aggravated by the Napoleonic invasion, which led to the War of Independence. The Constitution of Cadiz was promulgated, though it was later abolished when Ferdinand VII reinstated absolutism. In 1833, after the king's death, the late Romantic period began in Spain.

Rosalia de Castro

Rosalia de Castro embodies the most intimate current of Romanticism, composing works in both Castilian and Galician. In her poetry, apparent formal simplicity merges with an anguished vision of reality and nostalgia for her homeland.

Romantic Prose

Romantic prose flourished in both fiction and journalistic texts. Within narrative fiction, Gustavo Adolfo Becquer stands out, while in the field of journalism, Mariano Jose de Larra is the primary figure.

Romantic Poetry

Romantic poetry utilizes diverse metrics. Common themes include love, passion, and loneliness, often employing rhetorical language. Two types of poetry coexist:

• Lyric poetry: Expresses the poet's feelings and vision of the world. Key figures include Espronceda, Becquer, and Rosalia de Castro.
• Narrative poetry: Frequently features stories and legends. Espronceda is the most notable author in this style.

Jose Zorrilla

Jose Zorrilla recreated the myth of Don Juan in his famous work, Don Juan Tenorio. In this play, Don Juan personifies the Romantic rebel, ultimately saved by the love of Doña Ines.

Angel de Saavedra, Duke of Rivas

The 1835 release of Don Alvaro o la fuerza del sino resulted in the consolidation of Romantic drama.

The Romantic Drama

Romantic drama broke with the conventions of the Enlightenment period. Romantic authors rejected the traditional unities of action, time, and place, conceiving creation as a free act. The protagonist is often a mysterious hero marked by a tragic destiny, and the settings are frequently lugubrious. Regarding language, the theater is highly rhetorical, often mixing verse and prose. The most important playwrights were the Duke of Rivas and Jose Zorrilla.