European Romanticism: 19th Century Literary and Social Movements
The 19th Century: A Time of Change
Industrial Revolution and Social Transformation
In 19th-century England, technology played an increasingly greater role in factories, creating tension between worker sectors and sparking a social revolution. Workers grouped in cities, forming an urban society that slowly embraced a new ethic of progress and a less divinely dependent worldview. It was at this time that a new social class emerged, serving as a model: the bourgeoisie.
The Rise of Romanticism
Core Tenets and Influences
After the rationalist 18th century, shaken and agitated by renewed classical ideals, 19th-century European culture sought to rekindle the dream of imagination and feeling. Thus arose the Romantic movement, which retrieved a nostalgia for the Middle Ages. It was open to new experiences, inspired by the unknown, the hidden, mysteries, and ghosts. The essence of Romanticism, as René Huyghe wrote, was “an escape from reality to the imaginary.”
Romanticism’s Spread and Impact
Romanticism, which fought against Neoclassicism and Rationalism, though born in Germany and England in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, spread rapidly across Europe. There, it laid the foundations for the ideology of the liberal-bourgeois state.
Characteristics of Romantic Literature
Themes and Artistic Expression
Romantic works often featured references to mountains, rivers, waterfalls, and the incorporation of wilderness elements. Freedom was presented on a moral and social level, but there was also a strong desire for political freedom and a liberal system that would support civil rights. Art, too, rejected Neoclassical rules that restricted free expression.
Literature became a reflection of the artist’s feelings and passions, giving much more importance to the individual’s unique vision of the world. It also championed the historical nature of literary production; influenced by German thought, works were often linked to the spirit of the nation. This era saw the revitalization of literatures in various state languages, such as Catalan and Galician. The literature of this period embraced fantastic and irrational elements.
General themes included:
- The fate of humankind and its mysteries
- Platonic love
- Freedom
Stylistic Innovations
Not only did themes and issues change, but also the style of presentation. For the first time, colloquialisms, neologisms, and exotic, extravagant language were included in works. Furthermore, new metrical conditions emerged, and authors began to mix prose and verse.
Key Figures in European Romanticism
William Wordsworth: Poet of Nature and Change
One of the most famous Romantic poets is William Wordsworth. This genius experienced all the changes occurring in Britain and the international context, which greatly influenced his writings. His early poems expressed great enthusiasm and hope for democracy and revolution. However, as he gradually realized that revolution offered no solution to the problems of the time, his political views and vision shifted, a change reflected in his later work.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: The Sorrows of Werther
Another key representative of 19th-century European Romanticism is the German Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, whose work The Sorrows of Young Werther is emblematic. Werther became a refuge for all who loved without hope. This epistolary novel narrates the misfortunes, sorrows, sufferings, and bitterness of its young protagonist, who ultimately commits suicide due to his impossible love for Charlotte, a woman already committed.
Mary Shelley: A Female Voice in Romanticism
While men were prominent protagonists of this period, equally enthusiastic and significant women also emerged. In fact, one of the best novels of this period was written by a woman, Mary Shelley, whose Frankenstein explores passionate feelings of friendship and love.
Romanticism’s Legacy and Social Progress
Romanticism represents a pivotal moment in literary history. It emerged from a time when only a small part of society was literate, a situation that began to change thanks to the Enlightenment, which framed the Romantic era. It was also towards the end of this period that the rights of women began to be considered.