Spanish Literature in the 18th Century: Enlightenment to Pre-Romanticism

Spanish Literature in the 18th Century

The Enlightenment

In the 18th century, European thought underwent a major change, initially in more advanced nations like England and France, and later in other countries. The sense of security that had existed in many aspects of human thought in previous centuries began to disappear.

The bourgeoisie began to dominate as a social class, disputing the political power of the nobility. With the rise of the bourgeoisie came the spread of the Enlightenment. This movement rejected ideological, political, and religious dogma. Opposed to the principle of authority that existed before, it now only supported conclusions reached through free human reason.

By mid-century, the Encyclopedia, led by Diderot and d'Alembert, was published in France. It was a collection of human knowledge based solely on rational principles.

The Encyclopedists showed a clear religious skepticism that would have a great influence throughout Europe. Many thinkers of this era abandoned Christianity, replacing it with a vague belief in God (Deism) or atheism.

In the political field, the so-called enlightened despotism developed during this time, whose motto was "all for the people, but without the people." It attempted to reform and rationalize the economy, education, customs, etc., although it was intended that this would not involve a change in social structure. To that end, public industries, academies, research centers, and libraries were established, and agriculture and communications were encouraged.

However, these reform projects were insufficient for conscious and active members of the middle class, among whom egalitarian and liberal ideas promoted by the Enlightenment were taking root. They believed that the time had come to govern their society. This led to the French Revolution of 1789, which opened a new stage in world history.

Main Stages in the Development of 18th Century Spanish Literature

1. Anti-Baroque and Introduction of Enlightened Ideas:

Up to the middle of the century, literature continued to be dominated by the Baroque style and mentality. In this line, Diego de Torres y Villarroel stands out. Some authors argued in their works for the new rationalist mentality and used a clear and simple style. The most important figure in this period is Father Benito Jerónimo Feijoo.

2. Neoclassicism:

The authors who followed this trend sought to implement standards in their work championed by the Frenchman Boileau.

• Rejection of the artifice and excess of Baroque literature.
• Emphasis on the moral and educational purpose of literature, not merely recreational. Reason must prevail over feelings and fantasy.
• Triumph of the unities of action, place, and time in plays.
• Emphasis on the unity of style in works and the separation of genres: in works, the mix of tragic and comic, verse and prose, or high tone with the familiar is avoided.
• Cultivation, on the one hand, of high poetry with philosophical, moral, and social themes, in line with the philanthropic principles of the Enlightenment, and, on the other hand, of love poetry in simple language and feelings, which takes place in a bucolic setting (genus anacreontic).

3. Sentimentality (Pre-Romanticism):

In the last decades of the century (and in parallel with the development of Neoclassicism), a sentimental reaction occurred, especially appropriate in English literature. The ideas of the Swiss philosopher and writer Jean-Jacques Rousseau also contributed to this new sentiment. Thus, there is a significant presence in the literature of melancholy, tearful, and nocturnal themes.

The major Spanish authors in the second half of the 18th century, such as José de Cadalso and Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos, combined and alternated different literary trends. For example, José de Cadalso wrote plays in which he disseminated the views of the Enlightenment through essays.