Lope de Vega’s Theater, Spanish Golden Age, and More
Characteristics of Lope’s New Theater
- Characters: You can mix tragic and comic characters.
- Metric: It adjusts to situations; according to tradition, each stanza is ascribed to an issue.
- Purpose: The purpose of comedy is to delight, and the language employed must reach the public.
- Number of Acts: Works consist of 3 acts.
- Unity of Action: Must be maintained, although Lope himself did not always do so.
- Unities of Time and Place: There is no need to respect them, though it is recommended that the action takes place in the shortest possible time.
Lope’s Dramatic Work
Lope retained 400 comedies out of the 1500 that he is said to have composed. The Bible, mythology, history, legendary episodes, novels, romances, and traditional songs are the usual sources of dramatic affairs. Love and honor are the central motifs of the action. Some works are characterized by the presence of wealthy farmers who defend their honor. The best known are *Fuenteovejuna* and *Peribáñez y el Comendador de Ocaña*. Another group of works, such as *El Caballero de Olmedo*, despite some comic scenes, are very close in spirit to classical tragedy. Two pieces stand out in his theatrical production: *Fuenteovejuna* and *El Caballero de Olmedo*.
Fuenteovejuna
Based on a historical incident of abuse by Commander Fernando Gomez, the people of Fuenteovejuna rose up against him and killed him. When questioned, to avoid any of them being condemned to justice, the villagers claim collective authorship. The historical figures of the Catholic Monarchs intervene, who, in the absence of evidence, forgive the people.
El Caballero de Olmedo
Focuses on the love of Doña Inés, a lady of Medina, and Don Alonso, a knight of Olmedo. The atmosphere developed in this work is foreboding, ending tragically with the murder of Don Alonso by a rival in love.
La Dorotea
This book recounts Lope’s youthful love and reaches one of the highlights in the fusion of life and literature.
Corrales of the 17th Century
The *corrales* hosted popular theater companies represented by various actors. Spectators paid to attend the functions, which lasted for hours, and other minor pieces were performed. As it was necessary to harness sunlight, representations had to be completed by sunset. Religious brotherhoods performed for the first time at a fixed site at the end of the 16th century. Performances were held in the interior courtyards of houses.
Characteristics of the Illustration
- Rationalism: Reason is considered the unique base of knowledge, which favors the development of scientific thinking.
- Utilitarianism: It is believed that the application of reason will allow a constant improvement of society and unlimited economic and cultural progress.
- Reformism: To achieve these goals, the *ilustrados* aim to modernize society through gradual reforms by absolutist kings and governments. This is called enlightened despotism, whose principles are summarized in the slogan “Everything for the people, but without the people.”
Cartas Marruecas
José Cadalso’s attitude towards the critical interpretation of Spain is expressed in his *Cartas Marruecas*. The work is an epistolary novel consisting of letters exchanged by three correspondents: Gazel, a young Moroccan who made a trip through Spain; Ben-Beley, his preceptor; and Nuño, a Spaniard who serves as Gazel’s friend and guide. The structure follows the pattern of other epistolary works in fashion at the time, among which the best known, and generally taken as a model, is *Persian Letters* by the French philosopher and writer Montesquieu. In such works, the country is portrayed through the wondering gaze of a foreign tourist, a resort that allows for a critical view of society, ideas, and customs.
Romantic Mentality: Three Characteristics
- Individualism: Art and literature become the manifestation of the self and personal feelings. Great development of lyric poetry and music, art forms particularly suited for the expression of subjectivity.
- Irrationalism: Romanticism values irrational values: emotions, dreams, fantasies.
- Nationalism: Against the universalist spirit of Neoclassicism, Romanticism valued the traits of each country and regained their history and customs.
Realistic Literature: Three Characteristics
- The works revolve around a protagonist. This protagonist is usually defeated; it raises a conflict.
- The Romantic style is simple and sober. This apparent simplicity should not, however, be attributed to neglect or spontaneity.
- Objectivity is sought above all else. The writer applies the experimental method, trying to make his work reflect social reality in an exact way. The novel becomes like a reflection of life in a mirror.