Spanish Realism: Society, Literature, and Key Works

The Emergence of Realism in Literature

By 1870, following the decline of romantic taste, people preferred to read books dealing with contemporary issues that reflected the concerns and lifestyles of people in everyday circumstances. This literary movement was called Realism.

The Spanish Social Context of the Time

The era was marked by social tensions arising from incipient industrialization and the rise of the middle classes. Two key periods defined the social landscape:

• (1868 - 1874) Democratic Sexenio: This period began with the Glorious Revolution, led by General Prim, which ended the reign of Isabel II. It was a very turbulent time in political and social life, during which the middle classes unsuccessfully sought to achieve a more influential position.
• (1875 - 1898) Restoration of the Monarchy: Cánovas del Castillo restored the Bourbons to power. Under the guise of a parliamentary monarchy, this regime protected the privileges of the upper classes at the expense of the weaker and more vulnerable middle classes.

Features of Spanish Realism

Spanish Realism is the literary expression of the dominant mentality of the liberal bourgeoisie of the time. The novel was the most cultivated genre, as its characteristics were best suited to this movement. Spanish Realism is characterized by the following:

• Observation of Reality

  The mentality of the time gave priority to rational analysis. The novel is defined as a mirror held up to the road, reflecting both the beautiful and enjoyable elements of society as well as the unpleasant ones (the "grass and clay").

• Verisimilitude (Plausibility)

  The literary work must construct a narrative that resembles the real world. The novel attaches great importance to the description of space and character and describes daily events in a time period close to that of the writer and the public.

• Tendency Towards Objectivity

  Although the writer cannot avoid inserting personal views and critiques into the works, they strive for objectivity. To achieve this, the third-person omniscient narrator is commonly used.

• Deep Psychological Characterization

  Characters are typically from the urban middle classes. The protagonists are individuals who struggle to find love and happiness in a world that values money and social status over feelings.

• Simple Style

  Realist novels shun rhetoric and poetic expressions in favor of common language, closer to a colloquial style.

Leopoldo Alas "Clarín" (1852 - 1901)

• Professor of Law at the University of Oviedo.
• Author of La Regenta, his masterpiece and one of the greatest novels of the 19th century.

Synopsis of La Regenta

The novel tells the story of Ana Ozores, the beautiful young wife of Don Víctor Quintanar, the retired regent of the provincial court of Vetusta (a fictionalized Oviedo). Ana is bored with her husband, who is more concerned with hunting and Calderonian dramas than with their life together. Don Fermín de Pas, a handsome and ambitious priest, fills Ana's head with religious scruples to gain complete control over her. Meanwhile, the local womanizer, Don Álvaro Mesía, also vies for her attention. The two men come into conflict in the imagination of Ana, who is eager for excitement and is drawn to Don Fermín for his supposed piety and to Don Álvaro for his apparent romanticism.