Romanticism: A Cultural and Historical Analysis

Romanticism: A Cultural and Historical Framework

Romanticism is an aesthetic movement and ideology that emerged in the late 18th century in Germany and England, quickly spreading throughout Europe.

Key Features of Romanticism

• Freedom: Romanticism championed individual freedom and a deep appreciation of the self.
• Subjectivism: Romanticism emphasized the importance of the individual and their unique worldview. Literature became an outlet for the artist's inner feelings and passions.

The Romantic Ideal and Existential Conflict

The pursuit of ideal happiness often clashed with reality, leading writers to express their yearning and existential disappointment. The conflict between individual aspirations and societal norms led to the celebration of unconventional characters (pirates, mercenaries, etc.). The author often felt different, misunderstood, and elevated as a genius, an artist unable to find their place in society.

Rejection of the Practical and Embrace of the Extraordinary

19th-century artists felt alienated from the mediocrity and boredom of their time. They rejected the prevailing sense of practicality, where aesthetics were merely a distraction. They rebelled against social norms that restricted individuality. This rebellion was common among Romantics like Lord Byron and Romantic Shelley.

The Romantic Quest for Fullness

Romantics sought fulfillment in various forms:

• Nature, often mystified and consecrated (as seen in the works of Hölderlin and Wordsworth).
• Childhood or the past.
• An idealized Greece.
• Dreams or the mysteries of the night.
• The Platonic world and ultimate beauty.

For the Romantic, art was a response to profound boredom.

The Significance of Death in Romanticism

Death held great importance in Romanticism for several reasons:

• It highlighted the meaninglessness of existence, aligning with Romantic pessimism.
• It was seen as a solution to life's agonizing pain and disgust, with suicide sometimes viewed as an act of defiance (reflected in the works and lives of many authors).
• It represented a life lived to the limit, embracing risk and the unknown.
• It was closely linked to love, as Leopardi suggested, coinciding with an annihilating force that elevates us beyond the ordinary, negating everyday life.

Romantic Theater

Romantic theater deviated from neoclassical rules. It disregarded the three unities, combined tragedy and comedy, and incorporated lyrical passages. Stories were filled with passion and starred unconventional heroes (often marginalized characters driven by desires that clashed with societal norms). The style was characterized by excessive exclamations, moving away from restrained, neoclassical decorum.