Understanding Romanticism: Key Themes and Influential Figures

Romanticism is the expression of cultural ideals of the bourgeoisie, struggling to gain political power, social, and cultural development. Individualism is where the original artist expresses romantic rebel and nonconformist attitudes through his tormented inner world. This is expressed through turbulent subjectivism, nocturnal landscapes, and gives priority to the manifestation of beliefs. His imagination leads him to inhabit distant and exotic worlds. Sentimentality, good feelings, and the value of better death are the guides of action since they give validity to individual projects in a world of irrationalism. The selfish world of individual privacy is mysterious and contradictory; the universe contains deep secrets that can only be understood through artistic freedom. Dreams work; art is the product of inspiration and not subject to the rules inherited from tradition. 1809-1837 Mariano José de Larra's literary work was almost entirely journalistic. He very early showed a misfit character and critical nonconformity with the society of his time, emphasizing, as per his articles of literary criticism, politics, and morals. Chronic pessimism about the future of Spanish life and disappointment led him to suicide at age 28. His work is The Day of the Dead. Romantic poetry is an imitation of development models of European poetry of the time, especially from Lord Byron and Victor Hugo. Abundant narrative poetry deals with themes of solitude and loving failure, usually inspired by medieval subjects.

Regarding the metric, it recovers romance poetic language used in images of nature, nocturnal cemeteries, etc. Espronceda led a life typical of his writing as a romantic artist. The best-known characters were inspired by The Song of the Pirate, The Beggar, and The Executioner, so his lyricism is also occurring with other major works. One of his creations is The Devil of the World. His poetic style is very uneven. Drama is one of the most important genres of romance, and Spain enjoyed highly successful historical drama. The characters frequently belong to social classes in amazing environments. Angel Saavedra, Duque de Rivas, wrote Don Alvaro, a romantic drama or The Force of Destiny. Jose Zorrilla was the most successful author of historical issues and legendary tales, such as Don Juan Tenorio. Late Romanticism is often criticized for its superficiality and rhetorical excess. Literary language becomes simpler but more intense. Becquer wrote mystery stories under the title of Leyendas and wrote the Rhymes of 86 love poems, with themes of loneliness, failure, and death. Rosalia de Castro wrote much of her poetry in Galician, leading a solitary existence with deep hurt and intimate content.