Rosalía de Castro and Spanish Romanticism: Literary Insights

Rosalía de Castro: Pioneer of Modern Galician Literature

Rosalía de Castro stands as a prominent exponent of Romantic literature and is considered a precursor to modern literary movements, akin to Bécquer. Her significance lies in her role as a woman during the Galician Renaissance. Born in Santiago de Compostela, she was an unmarried daughter whose character was shaped throughout her life. She very soon demonstrated her literary talent. Her major literary production began after her marriage to Manuel Murguía in 1858. She passed away in Padrón in 1885. The main themes of her work include:

• Idealization of Galicia: Exalting Galician culture and landscape.
• Social Criticism: Denouncing the social injustices faced by the people of her region.
• Existential Pessimism: Reflecting the anguish of living, the longing for her land, solitude, and the contemplation of death.

Her literary production is broadly divided into two main categories:

Prose Works

• La hija del mar (The Daughter of the Sea)
• El caballero de las botas azules (The Knight of the Blue Boots)

Poetic Works

Her poetry includes significant Castilian works such as En las orillas del Sar (On the Banks of the Sar). This collection features short poems, often employing assonant rhyme. Its central theme is existential pessimism, where life is perceived as a source of anguish and pain. She often considers ideal love to be unattainable.

Rosalía de Castro and Bécquer: A Comparative Analysis

A notable parallelism exists between Rosalía de Castro and Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer:

Similarities

• Both share profound Romantic sentiments.
• They address similar universal themes in their works.
• Their literary style and metrics show similarities, reminiscent of Espronceda.

Differences

• Rosalía de Castro explores a wider variety of topics compared to Bécquer.
• Bécquer tends to use fewer expressive resources in his poetry.

Spanish Romantic Drama: Characteristics and Key Authors

The early 19th century saw a shift in public preference towards Romantic drama. While 18th-century comedies had limited success, Romantic drama triumphed between 1834 and 1844. During this period, drama became the preferred literary genre. Key characteristics of Spanish Romantic drama include:

• Rejection of Classical Rules: It rejects the Neoclassical rule of the three unities (action, time, and place).
• Blended Elements: Multiple actions, times, and places are often blended within a single play.
• Historical and Thematic Focus: It became fashionable to incorporate characters and themes from Spain's Golden Age.
• Central Themes: Tragic love is a predominant theme.
• Heroic Protagonists: The protagonists are typically heroic figures.

Principal Authors of Spanish Romantic Drama

• Francisco Martínez de la Rosa
• Duke of Rivas: Don Álvaro o la fuerza del sino (Don Álvaro or the Force of Fate)
• Antonio García Gutiérrez: El trovador (The Troubadour)
• Ventura de la Vega: El hombre de mundo (The Man of the World)
• Mariano José de Larra: Macías
• José de Espronceda: Sancho Saldaña
• Juan Eugenio Hartzenbusch: Los amantes de Teruel (The Lovers of Teruel)
• José Zorrilla: Don Juan Tenorio