Rosalía de Castro: A Biography and Literary Legacy

Early Life and Education

Rosalía de Castro was born in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, on February 24, 1837. Her mother, Teresa Castro y Abbey, was a gentlewoman of dwindling fortune. There is no evidence to support the claim that her father was the priest José Martínez Viojo. Rosalía was named Rosalía de María Rita. She spent her early years in Padrón before moving to Santiago de Compostela in 1850. Rosalía received a higher level of education than was typical for girls of her time, studying French, drawing, and music at the Sociedade Económica de Amigos del País. She also participated in activities and meetings at the Liceo de la Juventud, where she made her theatrical debut and likely met Aurelio Aguirre and Eduardo Pondal.

Literary Beginnings and Marriage

In 1856, Rosalía moved to Madrid, where she published her first book of poetry, La Flor (1857), and married Manuel Murguía. The following years were marked by an itinerant life as she followed her husband's various postings to Extremadura, Andalusia, Levante, and Castile. This period was also marked by hardship, including the deaths of several of her children, economic difficulties, and health problems.

Cantares Gallegos and Later Works

On May 17, 1863, Rosalía published her first book of poetry in Galician, Cantares Gallegos. This groundbreaking work marked a turning point in Galician literature and became a cornerstone of the Galician cultural renaissance. Inspired by Antonio de Trueba's songbook, Rosalía composed 32 songs (later expanded to 36 and then 38) that sought to capture the true spirit of the Galician people. Cantares Gallegos not only celebrated Galician culture but also served as a powerful statement against social conventions and the marginalization of women. Upon returning to Galicia in 1870, Rosalía settled in Padrón and wrote En las Orillas del Sar, while battling uterine cancer. She died on July 15, 1885, at the age of 48. Her remains rest in the Pantheon of Illustrious Galicians in Santiago de Compostela.

The Legacy of Cantares Gallegos

Cantares Gallegos is considered a foundational work of Galician literature. Rosalía's use of the Galician language, her celebration of Galician culture, and her critique of social injustices helped to revitalize Galician identity and establish Galician as a literary language. The book's impact extends beyond its literary merit, serving as a powerful political statement against the centralist view that marginalized Galicia and its people.