Spanish Romanticism: Key Authors, Themes, and Literary Stages

Romanticism in Spain: Key Characteristics and Literary Stages

Romanticism was a profound social and artistic movement spanning the first half of the 19th century. Its central purpose was asserting the right to liberty, understood both individually and collectively. In Europe, its development, particularly later in Spain during the reign of Ferdinand VII, allowed artists to express their ideology freely, disregarding classical rules.

Passion replaced reason, and artistic works became subjective. Romantic works are characterized by a mixture of genres, the combination of verse and prose, and the use of different metrical structures within a single poem.

Core Themes of Spanish Romanticism

• Feelings and Emotions: The primary theme is the intense expression of feelings and emotions, especially through lyricism.
• Individualism and Social Concern: Romantic individualism often manifests as social withdrawal alongside a deep concern for others' problems.
• Nature: Used extensively to express the different moods of people.
• Idealized Past: The evocation of an idealized medieval past inspired narrative and dramatic works.

During the Romantic era, existing works were compiled and new ones created, ensuring respect for the identities of all peoples. This marked a renaissance of languages across Europe, reflected in Spain by a new wave of literature in Galician, Catalan, and Basque.

Lyricism in Spanish Romanticism: Two Stages

Spanish Romantic lyricism is generally divided into two stages:

1. First Stage: Political and Combative Romanticism

   This stage is closely linked to political activity. Poets were often at odds with society and adopted a combative stance. José de Espronceda belongs to this period.

2. Second Stage: Late Romanticism

   Often called Late Romanticism, the combative social focus is abandoned, and the emphasis shifts to personal issues and heightened social awareness. Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer and Rosalía de Castro represent this period.

José de Espronceda: Poetry and Exile

José de Espronceda’s life was marked by literary and political affinities, and his poetry dominated the lyrical genre. After his years of exile, Espronceda’s style evolved from the Neoclassical aesthetic to one that blended genres and metrical schemes. Examples include El Estudiante de Salamanca and El Diablo Mundo, which contain lyrical and dramatic passages and various stanzas.

The lyrical themes of Espronceda have two landmarks:

• Romantic Ideals: Such as La Canción del Pirata (The Pirate's Song).
• Life Experience and Love: Such as Canto a Teresa, included in El Diablo Mundo.

Narrative and the Search for National Identity

In narrative, the primary aim was to showcase the national identity through two distinct paths:

The Historical Novel and Medieval Evocation

Some authors opted for the evocation of the past, usually the Middle Ages. The result was the historical novel. The most important author in this genre is Enrique Gil y Carrasco, known for El Señor de Bembibre. Other works, sometimes written in prose and verse, include those by Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, the Duke of Rivas, and José Zorrilla.

The Novel of Manners (Costumbrismo)

Observation of contemporary life served as the starting point for the novel of manners (Costumbrismo), influenced by Cecilia Böhl de Faber's articles on customs. Its key representative is Ramón Mesonero Romanos.

Both the historical novel and the novel of manners served as precedents for Realism. Within this context, Mariano José de Larra used his critical newspaper articles not merely to expose the daily life of the Spanish people but to add a profound critical intention.