Spanish Literary History: Romanticism to Naturalism

Society and Mentality of the Romantic Period

The Society of the Romantic period starts in 1815 with the defeat of Napoleon and the restoration of absolute monarchy. Romanticism is a broad and complex period. The mentality is based on individualism, self-manifestation, irrationalism, and the defense of freedom.

Key Features of the Romantic Spirit

• Idealism: The search for unattainable ideas.
• Nationalism: Valuing the unique features of each country.
• Exoticism: Rejection of modern society in favor of the rebellious and youthful spirit.

Historical Circumstances in Spain

Pre-romanticism was hampered by the War of Independence and the absolute braking of the King. Spanish intellectuals in exile in France exported the knowledge of Romanticism that Spain did not fully gain until the death of Ferdinand VII. The first Romantic book is The Conspiracy of Venice by Francisco Martínez de la Rosa. The peak of Spanish Romanticism lasted a decade.

The Era of Realism

The time of Realism has its origin in the revolutionary movement of 1848. The bourgeoisie abandoned the revolutionary spirit in search of stability and moderation. This era saw industrial growth and the rise of great colonial empires in Africa and Asia.

Political and Scientific Progress

The bourgeois revolution of 1868 failed, and in 1874, the Bourbon monarchy was restored, beginning the Restoration period where the realistic novel flourished. Scientific research made great progress; Charles Darwin published The Origin of Species. In technology, the telegraph and steamships emerged.

Literary Characteristics of Realism

The bourgeoisie abandoned Romantic ideology and replaced it with Realism, which described the mindset of society.

• Scientific Method: The work must reflect reality accurately and objectively.
• Objectivity: Striving for objectivity while maintaining an omniscient point of view.
• Everyday Reality: Arguments focus on daily life, featuring common or vulgar characters.
• Social Conflict: A conflict exists between the characters' desires and social norms.
• Style: The style is simple, and the novel is the most common genre.

Abundant descriptions of the bourgeoisie and the middle class are common, though the purpose of describing the entire society is not always fulfilled from a standpoint that does not cover every social class.

Naturalism and Scientific Observation

Naturalism arose in France, with Émile Zola as its literary precursor. It applies the scientific method to literature, arguing that character behavior is determined by genetic inheritance and the social environment.

Features of Naturalist Works

• The novelist mimics the scientific method through observation and data verification.
• Detailed descriptions based on medicine and psychology.
• Presence of sordid and unpleasant aspects.
• Characters often possess physical or mental defects.