Generation of ’98: Spanish Literature in Crisis
Generation of ’98
The Generation of ’98 emerged from three circumstances:
- The political, economic, and moral crisis in Spain in the late 19th century.
- The exhaustion of narrative forms of the realistic and naturalistic movements.
- Foreign influence on the thinking of writers.
For these reasons, the writers expressed their protest against the decadent habits of Spanish society and proposed a complete overhaul of its social and moral behavior. All authors developed a neo-Romantic ideal of character. Idealism and critical thought, combined with a deep individualistic attitude, provoked a defense of subjectivism.
Themes in the Novel of the Generation of ’98
The two issues that most concerned the authors were the subject of Spain and existential issues. The theme of Spain was approached from different perspectives. However, all sought a different image of Spain from that reflected in the topics and traditions. This search focused on discovering the soul of Spain, and to achieve this, the paths taken were:
- The unique landscape of Castile. The novelty was in the way of seeing it, as it was subjective and idealistic.
- The story of the unnamed man, the small events that happen in everyday life.
- Literature, going back to medieval authors and the classics forgotten for their deep feeling for Spain. Interest was shown in Cervantes.
The existential issue covered such diverse topics as: concern for the meaning of life, the role of religion, doubts about the existence of the afterlife, and psychological conflicts of human beings. The different attitudes toward these issues differed from one author to another.
The Narrative Style of the Generation of ’98
The stylistic technique was also affected by the reformist spirit. The most important characteristics are:
- Rejection of bombastic expression and rhetoric. They proclaimed the need for a return to simplicity and clarity.
- The presence of a personal style.
- The removal of the standard procedures of realism and determination in expressing emotions.
- The trend of lexical precision.
- The preference for short sentences, short paragraphs, and natural expression.
Novelists of the Generation of ’98
Miguel de Unamuno
His novels are a projection of his personal concerns. All his work is based on concern about Spain and its concern about existence and death. These issues are already present in his early novels, but it is in Niebla (Mist) that the thematic and formal characteristics of his nivola are best reflected. The confusion between dream and reality, between reason and faith, are the themes derived from one parent: the anguish of human existence.
José Martínez Ruiz, “Azorín”
Azorín is a writer of depth, as intended. His novels are characterized by simplicity and accuracy. He developed a descriptive and subtle technique. His concern for perceived time is spent in sad, melancholic, and smooth prose. His best-known titles are Don Juan and Doña Inés. His works are closer to essays.
Pío Baroja
The main theme of his work is a protest against society. Baroja manifested a critical and sincere attitude in his ideas, but he also showed compassion for the marginalized. He found action to be the only solution. His novels can be divided into two groups:
- Thoughtful novels, where Baroja expresses skepticism about the religious aspects of man.
- Action novels. Many of his novels are a cluster of events and episodes where adventure is the central argument.
His novels are based on spontaneity and anti-rhetoric. His style is dominated by short paragraphs and a clear, simple lexicon.
Ramón María del Valle-Inclán
Ramón María del Valle-Inclán is an original writer. His first great work is the four Sonatas. They are characterized by a modernist prose aimed at aestheticism and sensuality. The main themes are love and death.