Spanish Baroque Literature: Cervantes, Lope de Vega, and Conceptism

Spanish Baroque Literature: Key Figures and Works

Miguel de Cervantes: Literary Contributions

• Poet: Wrote ballads and other compositions.
• Playwright: Had little success. His classically inspired works were overshadowed by the new theater of Lope de Vega.
• Novelist: Considered the creator of the modern novel.

Key Themes in Don Quijote

The novel uses an apparently simple and plain style, notably mastering the use of polyphonic dialogues. It has a polyphonic character. Key themes include:

• Criticism of chivalric romances (books of horsemen).
• The confrontation between madness and reason.
• Humor.
• The struggle between man's ideals and painful reality.
• The description and contrast of great human values.
• Description of the era.

Francisco de Quevedo: Moral and Doctrinal Prose

Satirical Prose: Notable works include The Dreams (Los Sueños). The purpose is to reflect on the Spanish decline, although often only a humorous and burlesque intention is perceived.

Doctrinal Prose: We must differentiate between his political and ascetic works. In the ascetic works, Christian thought merges with the doctrines of Stoicism. Quevedo clearly expresses pessimism about the world, where death is presented as the only way out.

Baltasar Gracián: Conceptism and Style

His work is often described as cold and cerebral. His conception of reality holds that nothing is absolute.

His style is highly conceptual, characterized by the constant use of:

• Antithesis
• Word games
• Ingenuity (wit)
• Allegory
• Humor

Lope de Vega: Poetry and Versatility

Lope de Vega's poetic output is divided into two main types:

• Popular Poetry: Includes all kinds of romances, especially those concerning shepherds and Moors.
• Cultic Poetry: He famously wrote 3,000 sonnets, many of which were integrated into his comedies.

His themes are highly varied, often focusing on loneliness and freedom.

The Baroque Comedy: Lope de Vega's New Theater

In this context, the term comedy is synonymous with play or drama.

Structure and Themes

Lope de Vega championed artistic freedom and rejected the classical three dramatic unities (time, place, and action). The comedy is divided into three acts or "days." The transition between acts often involves a significant time jump (hours, days, or years).

Plots are varied, but the central themes are typically love and honor.

The image of society transmitted by the comedy is harmonious, often linked to the celestial order.

Characters and Style

Characters are theatrical types that reflect general human characteristics. Common character types include:

• The Gentleman (Galán) and the Lady (Dama)
• The Servant (Gracioso) and the Maid (Criada)
• The Father
• The King
• The Villain or Rich Farmer (Villano)

The literary form of the Baroque theater is verse. Poetic decorum is strictly maintained, meaning the language and behavior fit the social status of each character.