Spanish Romanticism: A Literary Journey Through 19th Century Spain

Romanticism in Spain: A Cultural Movement

Romanticism, originating in Germany and England, flourished in Spain between the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Initially influenced by German Romantic vision, it evolved through distinct phases, from a traditionalist and conservative stance to a more progressive orientation, eventually settling into a conservative perspective by the 1840s.

In the latter half of the century, a more intimate poetic style developed.

Key Characteristics of Spanish Romanticism

• Desire for Freedom: Moral, social, political, and artistic.
• Subjectivism: Emphasis on individual perspective and emotional expression. The artist conveys personal thoughts and feelings, often grappling with the clash between ideal happiness and harsh reality.
• Cultural Interest: Fascination with medieval literature, folklore, and popular traditions. Advocacy for Spanish cultures, including Galician and Catalan.
• Irrationalism and Evasion: A penchant for the fantastic and mysterious, including apparitions and the supernatural.
• Emotional Importance: Reflecting human feelings and sentiments.

Themes and Literary Styles

Main Themes: Freedom, love, power, justice, and the human condition.

Style: Prominent use of exclamatory statements to convey moods and emotions.

Romantic Drama

Features: Division of works into acts, blending prose and verse, multiple actions across various locations, and non-linear timelines spanning years.

Main Topics: Fate, love, vengeance, and authority.

Characters: Protagonists are often mysterious figures, victims of fate. Women are passionate lovers, often doomed to suffering.

Notable Works:

• Don Álvaro, o la fuerza del sino by Ángel Saavedra, Duke of Rivas.
• Don Juan Tenorio by José Zorrilla.

Romantic Poetry

Emphasis on narrative and lyric poetry. Narrative poetry flourished in the first half of the century, often incorporating elements of the fantastic and dismal, as seen in El Estudiante de Salamanca by José de Espronceda. Lyric poetry, initially cultivated by Espronceda with works like La canción del pirata, found its main representatives in the latter half of the 19th century:

Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer

• Works: Rimas
• Themes: The essence of poetry, love (often unrequited), loneliness, and death.
• Style: Conversational tone, repetitions, parallels, and metaphors.

Rosalía de Castro

• Works: Cantares Gallegos, Follas Novas, En las orillas del Sar

Romantic Prose

Main Forms: Historical novels, articles on customs (describing scenes and character types), and newspaper articles.

Mariano José de Larra

A prominent journalist and writer, known for his political and literary articles, literary criticism, and moral essays.