Spanish Romanticism: Key Authors and Literary Traits

Characteristics of Spanish Romanticism

Spanish Romanticism, a vibrant literary movement, championed freedom in literature, art, industry, and commerce. It emphasized significant originality and individualism. The romantic style was lively and rhetorical, designed to highlight the author's intense feelings.

Core Themes and Attitudes

• The Revolt: Many texts featured marginalized characters, symbolizing a rebellious attitude against societal norms.
• The Escape: Confronting the realities of society often led to themes of evasion or a longing for remote locations.
• The Projection of Nature: Nature was frequently expressed through the author's sentiments, reflecting inner turmoil or peace.
• Nationalism: A deep appreciation for genuine manifestations of the soul of the people and national identity.

Influential Figures

Key sources of Romantic literature include:

• Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: Author of Faust, a man obsessed with living a full and intense life, and The Sorrows of Young Werther, depicting a young man who tragically takes his own life for love.
• Lord Byron: The prototypical Romantic poète maudit, embodying rebellion and melancholy.

Romantic Literary Forms

Romantic Poetry

Romantic poetry often employed polymetry, blending verses and stanzas of varying meters. Common themes included ideal love and the loneliness of the individual, expressed through a rhetorical style. Two main types of poetry emerged:

• Lyrical: A vision expressing the poet's profound feelings.
• Narrative: Stories based on legends and historical events.

Romantic Prose

Romantic prose saw the significant growth of both drama and journalistic texts. Notable figures include:

• Narrative: Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer
• Journalism: Mariano José de Larra, who published articles recounting Spanish traditions and customs.

Romantic Theater

Romantic Theater dramatically broke with the dramaturgy of the Enlightenment period. It explicitly rejected the classical unities of action, time, and place, conceiving dramatic creation as a free act, exempt from rigid rules.

Key Elements of Romantic Drama

• Mysterious Hero: Often a protagonist with a complex past or enigmatic nature.
• Tragic and Inevitable Fate: Characters frequently succumb to a predetermined, sorrowful destiny.
• Dismal Places: Settings often included gloomy or evocative locations.
• Mixed Verse and Prose: A blend of poetic and everyday language.

Notable Works and Authors

• Ángel de Saavedra, Duke of Rivas: His play Don Álvaro, or the Force of Destiny is considered a consolidation of Romantic theater. The romantic hero, Don Álvaro, undergoes a tragic fate, leading him to kill his brother and the father of his fiancée.
• José Zorrilla: His renowned play Don Juan Tenorio features Don Juan, who embodies the rebellious romantic spirit, ultimately saved by the love of Doña Inés.

Prominent Spanish Romantic Authors

José de Espronceda (1808-1842)

Espronceda actively combated absolutism and lived in exile until 1833. Upon his return to Spain, he continued his literary and political activity until his death in 1842. His works often portray marginalized figures, notably in his collection Songs, which includes the famous composition The Pirate Song.

Mariano José de Larra (1809-1837)

Larra studied in France but at 18 years old moved to Madrid. There, he founded two newspapers and published influential articles under the pseudonym 'Fígaro'. His newspaper articles critically examined the problems of Spain and Spanish customs, offering sharp social commentary.

Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer (1836-1870)

Bécquer initially studied to be a painter, but at 18, he moved to Madrid and decided to pursue poetry. Plagued by disease, economic hardships, and romantic failures, he found solace in reading. His most famous works are:

• Rimas (Rhymes): Short poems expressing his feelings in simple, melodic language, often drawing on popular poetry.
• Leyendas (Legends): Prose narratives set in medieval times, featuring fantastic or supernatural events.