Spanish Modernism and the Generation of '98 Literary Renewal

The Renewal of Modernist Aesthetics and the Generation of '98

The renewal of modernist aesthetics, particularly in poetic language, extended significantly into prose and fiction. Sensuality, idealization, and the stylization of reality form the basis of these works.

The Generation of '98 (G98) retained aspects of the modernist reaction against vulgar style. The movement sometimes adopted the themes and ideas of Naturalism (as seen in Baroja), while in others, it embraced German intellectual and existential thought (Unamuno), or focused on a new sensibility of romance and nostalgia (Azorín).

Miguel de Unamuno: Intellectual and Existential Thinker

Born in Bilbao, Miguel de Unamuno was a university professor of Greek, a playwright, poet, essayist, and profound intellectual thinker. He remains one of the most influential figures of his time due to the depth of his concerns and philosophical approach.

Unamuno renewed the literary genre through a novelistic form that reflected his intellectual approach, philosophical worldview, and ideological concerns. A prime example is the novella San Manuel Bueno, Martyr.

The Concept of the Nivola

Unamuno famously called his novels nivolas to distance them from traditional realism. In the nivola, the language is highly intellectual, and the author allows his characters to act according to their own internal laws, contrasting with the more direct, realistic language found elsewhere.

Pío Baroja: Pessimism and Social Critique

Pío Baroja lived in Madrid, dedicating his life entirely to literature. He is considered one of the greatest novelists of his time. Though deeply tender in nature, he consistently maintained a profound pessimism regarding human nature and society.

His work is particularly critical of global society, viewing it as corrupt. Consequently, Baroja distrusted social or religious organizations and political parties. While he believed in the good feelings of man, he viewed life as a struggle in which the weak always lose.

Notable works include:

• The Tree of Science
• "Stop or anything"

Ramón del Valle-Inclán: From Modernism to Esperpento

Born in Pontevedra, Ramón del Valle-Inclán represented the progressive bohemian ideology of his time, moving from traditional right-wing views to radical left-wing positions.

He was an outstanding playwright who elevated Spanish drama to the highest standards of modernity. In his novelistic work, he achieved one of the biggest breaks with the traditional concept of the genre.

Early Modernist Period: The Sonatas

Valle-Inclán began his career with The Sonatas, characterized by exuberant Modernism. This period is rich in brilliant language, utilizing sensory elements for the stylization and idealization of the Galician setting (e.g., "the glow of the fire").

The Esperpento Technique

In a second period, Valle-Inclán shifted his focus toward deforming basic rules, similar to avant-garde painting, through the use of the grotesque (esperpento). He sought to unmask reality through deformation, revealing the authentic reality beneath the surface. The grotesque vision of reality is considered one of the great Spanish contributions to the European avant-garde.

His grotesque novels include Tyrant Flags (Tirano Banderas), considered one of the great novels of the century. This work parodies the dictator figure using deforming techniques and advances in time with its cinematic view.