Spanish Literature: Neoclassicism to Naturalism

Spanish Literature: 18th and 19th Centuries

Historical and Social Context

1789 - Revolutionary Situation

Economic downturn in France led to widespread discontent. In Spain, the death of Carlos V triggered the War of Succession. The 19th century saw political shifts and economic transformations initiated by the Industrial Revolution.

1808 - Napoleonic Invasion

Napoleon invaded Spain, leading to the War of Independence. In 1814, Fernando VII rejected the constitution, restoring absolute monarchy. From 1833 to 1868, liberals returned to power.

Neoclassicism (Enlightenment Thinking)

Neoclassicism affirmed the power of reason, placing humanity at the center of the world and reviving Greco-Roman art.

• Fable: Personified animals with a didactic and moralistic purpose.
• Essay: Clear exposition of a case.
• Epistolary Genre: Objective and detached perspective.

Romanticism

Romanticism presented a new vision of the world, seeking novel expressive forms. Key themes included:

• Love: Idealized, often leading to tragic outcomes.
• Freedom: Patriotism and individual liberty.
• Existence: Often depicted as continuous agony, sadness, loneliness, and even suicide.
• Evasion of Reality: Through exotic environments and settings.
• Nature: Viewed as either a source of solace or a reflection of inner turmoil.

Linguistic Characteristics

Romanticism employed a suggestive and sonorous vocabulary, emphasizing musicality. It embraced metrical freedom, using verses of varying lengths.

Key Romantic Poets

• José de Espronceda: Focused on marginalized and rebellious figures.
• Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer: Known for Rimas and legends, exploring themes of poetry, fleeting love, hopelessness, anguish, despair, and death.
• Rosalía de Castro: Celebrated for her simple and intimate style.

Romantic Theater

Romantic theater disregarded classical unities of time and place, employing exaggerated language and scenarios to stir emotions. Notable authors include:

• Duque de Rivas: Author of Don Álvaro o la fuerza del sino, a significant early success in Romantic theater.
• José Zorrilla: Author of Don Juan Tenorio, a frequently performed play featuring impossible love, tragic endings, and a complex social hero.

Realism and Naturalism

Emerging in 19th-century Europe, Realism and Naturalism stood in opposition to Romanticism and Idealism.

Realism

Realism focused on political and social problems, reproducing reality with attention to detail in settings, clothing, and speech. It showed interest in psychological depth and critiqued societal flaws to reach a wider audience.

Naturalism

Naturalism represented an evolution of Realism, pushing realistic techniques to the extreme.

The Realist and Naturalist Novel

• Character: Objectivity and rigorous analysis of reality.
• Setting: Realistic and rigorously described.
• Nature: Depicted the most miserable places.
• Narrator: Omniscient.
• Style and Language: Sober and direct.

Key Authors

• Juan Valera: Known for simplicity in style and character studies.
• Benito Pérez Galdós: Wrote about national events, 19th-century Spanish history, contemporary issues, and religious politics, with detailed descriptions of environments.
• Leopoldo Alas (Clarín): Author of La Regenta, literary articles, and critical stories.
• Emilia Pardo Bazán: Promoted Naturalism through her travels and writings, including La Tribuna.