Spanish Literature and History: 18th and 19th Centuries

Spain in the 18th Century

Spain was in deep crisis due to the War of the Spanish Succession. Philip V of Bourbon finally took the throne. His reign, along with that of Ferdinand VI, led to greater stability. During the reign of Charles IV, Godoy was prominent, whose poor policies had serious consequences. In this century, Spain experienced an economic upswing. Enlightened reforms sought to improve the economy, promoting the figure of the merchant, but industry remained poor. Society was still based on estates, with a loosely organized bourgeoisie (composed of artisans and merchants), peasants, beggars, slaves, etc. Despite reforms intended to undermine these differences, they persisted. The reforms also focused on education and the economy. Institutions like the National Library and the RAE (Royal Spanish Academy) were created. However, these reforms were difficult, delayed, and slow.

Jovellanos (1744-1811)

Best representative of the Spanish Enlightenment. His literary output was quite large, although his strictly literary works were limited. He composed a poem, a tragedy, and a comedy: Pelayo and El delincuente honrado (The Honored Offender). Where he truly excelled was in his prose, which addressed the country's issues and exposed his reformist ideas. Notable works include Informe sobre espectáculos y diversiones públicas (Report on Public Spectacles and Amusements), Informe sobre la Ley Agraria (Report on the Agrarian Law), and Informe sobre la educación pública (Report on Public Education).

Spanish Realism and Naturalism

Benito Pérez Galdós

Noted for his characters and his ability to integrate the country's history during his lifetime (Episodios Nacionales). Also known for his thesis novels (e.g., Doña Perfecta), contemporary novels that invent a world reflecting the reality of the time (e.g., Fortunata y Jacinta), and spiritual novels (e.g., Misericordia). His later works mix realism with fantasy elements (e.g., Casandra).

Leopoldo Alas 'Clarín'

He cultivated criticism, essays, novels, and short stories. In his narrative, naturalism and religion converge. He is noted for his stories (e.g., Pipá) and his novel La Regenta (The Regent), which deals with the conflict in the pursuit of ideal love in a hostile environment, a history of a lack of love and friendship, whose theme is adultery in a love triangle.

Spanish Romanticism

Romantic Poetry

It represents a clear transition to Romanticism. It triumphed in the 1830s, leading to many poems spread by oral tradition and the press. It was read mainly by the bourgeoisie, as Romanticism embodied the prevailing situation at the time. It often mixed genres and featured polymetry.

• Narrative Poetry: Recounts historical or invented events. Combines description, dialogue, and lyricism. Examples: Espronceda (El diablo mundo), Duque de Rivas (Romances históricos).
• Lyric Poetry: Recounts feelings, melancholy, weariness of life, etc., typical of the romantic environment. In Spain, it sometimes lacked that romantic depth, and poems were often too rhetorical and repetitive in themes. Examples: Espronceda and Zorrilla.

José Zorrilla

Writer best known for his poetry and drama. His poetry is lyrical and splits into legends (popular and sometimes nonsensical). It is varied in theme and metrics. It also has a great sense of rhythm and musicality and masters rhetoric. Shows pre-modern influences.

Rosalía de Castro

Is a major figure alongside Bécquer. She stands out as a poet (e.g., Cantares Gallegos and Follas Novas). The intimacy allows her poems to convey authenticity and to express social concerns and awareness of oppressed women.

Romantic Theatre

It achieved rapid success. The main theme is love, and the impossibility of achieving pure and perfect love results in tragic endings for the characters, who are often flat. Heroes often have an unknown origin, and their mood swings between happiness and despair. They aspire to freedom and love, often represented by the heroines. Usually develops in a historical setting, often national history. It also shares features with the Baroque theatre, such as the lack of respect for the three unities (action, time, and place). Mixed verse and prose were used, but verse predominated. The events vary, and spectacle and plot are essential. Zorrilla was the most successful, characterized by his ability to create and maintain interesting conflicts, although his outcomes were often highly improvised, and his work sometimes suffered from superficiality. His most notable work is Don Juan Tenorio.