Valle-Inclán and Lorca: Spanish Theater Evolution

Valle-Inclán

Throughout his career, Valle-Inclán demonstrated a continuous willingness for formal thematic renewal and an intention to break with the theater of his time. His work evolved into his unique creation: the esperpento.

Early Dramatic Works: Drama in Decay

In these works, Valle-Inclán applied modernism to drama, achieving a poetic theater. He incorporated characters with realistic language and attitudes. The first works focused on the theme of adultery, free of ethical constraints.

The Marquis of Bradomín

This book highlights the use of ridiculed techniques and multiple locations of action.

The Wilderness of Souls

Valle-Inclán paid great attention to the protagonist's mood. Hypersensitivity is exalted, feelings triumph, and there is a critique of religion and the bourgeoisie.

Galician Environment Dramas

This category brings together the Barbaric Comedies, Divine Words, and The Bewitched. The mythic cycle is related by its themes, characters, and meanings. It represents an archaic society. The conflict focuses on lust, pride, and cruelty.

Barbaric Comedies

This trilogy features characters who embody primal human impulses and are moved by obscure reasons.

Divine Words

This drama contrasts the distortions of the esperpento world with decadent styling.

Farces

Valle-Inclán authored four farces. He introduced characters from show business, used disguises, and employed the play-within-a-play technique.

• The Marquise Rosalind: A modernist critique of Spain, poking fun at the usual. It makes use of imagery.
• The Dragon's Head: The fairy tale atmosphere refers to the poor economic situation, criticizing the upper class.
• The Love of Don Perlimplín with Belisa in His Garden: Contrasts the sentimental and the grotesque.
• The Queen's Castiza: A more concrete critique of the life of Queen Isabella II and the palace.

Esperpento

Esperpento is a particular vision of the world (caves, streets, prostitutes, Bohemians). Reality is destroyed and transformed, its apparent image made to reveal its true nature. It is a tool for unmasking. Distorted aspects of characters and situations show a comic and macabre side. It focuses on the era in which Valle-Inclán lived, which he despised.

Bohemian Lights

This work criticizes everything from the monarchy to the bohemian lifestyle. It collectively criticizes Spain, highlighting injustice and violence.

Shrove Tuesday

Includes: The Horns of Don Friolera, The Finery of the Deceased, and The Captain's Daughter.

Federico García Lorca

Lorca is considered a true poetic theater innovator. He gave importance to music and dance. His productions express the problems of life and history.

Early Comedies and Farces

These are related to modern theater. For example, The Butterfly's Evil Spell. The four farces develop the conflict arising from the marriage of convenience between the old and the young.

Impossible Comedies

This category includes three plays influenced by surrealism. They break with spatiotemporal logic, explore split personalities, and allow for multiple interpretations.

When Five Years Pass

This work uses complex symbolism that has given rise to various interpretations.

The Public

The main character attempts to crush his homosexuality. Themes include personality and drama.

Rural Tragedies

Lorca wrote a dramatic trilogy of the Spanish earth: Blood Wedding, Yerma, and The House of Bernarda Alba. The etiology develops in a rural environment, culminating in a tragic destiny. They feature minor arguments and fewer characters.

Blood Wedding

This play dramatizes the power of passion, sex, and the earth. It shows the strength of instincts.

Yerma

This work presents sterility as a curse for the protagonist.

The House of Bernarda Alba

Inspired by an actual event, it depicts a conflict between authority, represented by Bernarda, and freedom, embodied by Adela.