Rosalía de Castro: Pain, Love & Saudade in Her Poetry

Follas Novas: Rosalía's Psychological Depth

Follas Novas, written in Galician, reveals the full psychological complexity of Rosalía de Castro. Its most relevant poems showcase her subjectivity and conception of the world. In poems where she speaks of herself, we see a Rosalía characterized by:

• Pain
• Suffering
• Despair
• Loneliness

Death often appears as the only solution in these personal reflections. Poems with social themes primarily address emigration and the plight of migrant women, who are left alone and must perform traditional female tasks.

En las Orillas del Sar: Rosalía's Final Poetic Work

En las Orillas del Sar was Rosalía de Castro's last book. Its themes and tone align closely with those of Follas Novas. It is poetry marked by disappointment, hurt, and devastation. In this work, Rosalía loses hope and retreats into her pain and loneliness.

Key Concepts in Rosalía's Poetry

The Nature of Love

Love is rarely reflected positively in her work. Her life circumstances contributed to this perspective:

• Being an illegitimate child (hija ilegítima)
• Her precarious health
• Separations from her husband due to work issues
• The drowning (ahogado) of her childhood sweetheart

Thus, love in her poetry does not appear full and happy; it is predominantly an unhappy love.

The Concept of 'Sombras' (Shadows)

Sombras (Shadows) represent people who have died and exist in an indefinite beyond. The author makes contact with these figures, communicating with them in her poems.

Dominant Themes in Her Major Works

Follas Novas and En las Orillas del Sar share several key themes, which are central to understanding Rosalía's poetic universe:

The Pervasiveness of Pain

This includes both her own pain and that of others, which she internalizes in her poetry. She sympathizes with the pain of sufferers, especially women. Pain is a constant presence, becoming a companion and, paradoxically, a remedy against loneliness. The poet believes some people are destined to experience pain from birth—the inherently sad.

Saudade: Loneliness as Destiny

Saudade, a Portuguese and Galician word, signifies loneliness as a destiny. It implies being alone, a profound state beyond mere solitude, deeply embedded in her work.

Religious Doubts and Contradictions

Her poems reveal a contradictory stance on religion. Some interpret Rosalía as an atheist, while others believe she was a fervent Christian. She presents a rebellious faith, sometimes uttering harsh curses against God and rebelling against divine will. Rosalía experiences doubts and contradictions, alternating moments of authentic faith with periods of disbelief. She raises two central theological issues:

• The silence of God
• The suffering of innocents

She cannot comprehend why God allows suffering and misfortune, leading her to consider death as a release and even suicide as a solution to her troubles.