Neoclassicism and Romanticism in Spanish Literature
1. Neoclassicism (18th Century)
1.1 Didactic Fables
Fables exemplify the dual purpose of Neoclassical literature: to be both useful and delightful. Typically written in verse, with a simple meter (e.g., eight-syllable assonant verses), they present short, humorous stories culminating in a moral lesson. Characters, often animals, embody human virtues and shortcomings. Key fabulists include Félix María Samaniego and Tomás de Iriarte, known for works like The Donkey Flutist.
1.2 Pictorial Essays
Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos, a quintessential Enlightenment figure, aimed to reform Spanish thought and customs. His didactic purpose prioritized conveying useful ideas and critiquing areas needing reform. His elegant and sober style is evident in works like Report on the Agrarian Law and Notes on Shows and Public Entertainment.
1.3 Neoclassical Theater
Rejecting Baroque theater, Neoclassical playwrights sought to revive classical tragedy and comedy, aiming to educate the public. Adhering to Aristotle’s rule of three unities (time, place, and action), they offered credible critiques of societal manners. Leandro Fernández de Moratín, a leading figure, used his Enlightenment ideals to challenge customs like the inadequate education of women and marriages of convenience. His comedies, notably The Maidens Consent (written in prose and observing the three unities), gently satirize these situations to reform social attitudes and values.
2. Romanticism (19th Century)
The 19th century witnessed the rise of liberalism across Europe, challenging absolutism and consolidating bourgeois power. This era saw revolutionary movements, industrialization, and the birth of Romanticism. Originating in late 18th-century England and Germany, Romantic literature flourished in poetry and theater, continuing into the latter half of the century with the more intimate Post-Romanticism.
3. Characteristics of Romanticism
At the heart of Romanticism lies the exaltation of freedom:
- Exaltation of the “I”: Prioritizing feelings over reason, Romanticism emphasizes a subjective worldview. Themes of hysteria, nocturnal settings, and wild nature reflect the poet’s moods. Irrational elements (imagination, dreams, inspiration) and the artist’s creative genius are celebrated, rejecting any limiting rules.
- Discontent with Reality: Romantic artists grapple with the world through both conformist and escapist attitudes, leading to disappointment and the creation of fantastical worlds.
- Idealism: The pursuit of personal ideals (freedom, love) intertwines with collective nationalist ideals.
3.1 Romantic Lyric: José de Espronceda
Espronceda’s poetry embodies the passionate, rebellious spirit of Romanticism. His progressive views champion freedom through marginalized figures like the pirate. His narrative poems and love compositions blend various stanzas with a bombastic, passionate style, rich in exclamations, evocative imagery, and rhythmic effects.
3.2 Post-Romantic Lyric: Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer
Bécquer and Rosalía de Castro represent the intimate sensibility of late Romanticism and Post-Romanticism. Bécquer’s Rimas (Rhymes) introduce a new poetic language, evoking emotion, imagination, and intuition through suggestion and mystery. Rejecting the bombastic style of earlier Romantics, he employs simple language and musicality to convey his inner world: the desire to capture the essence of poetry, feelings of loneliness, pain, hope, and romantic disappointment. His preference for assonance, rhythmic structures (repetition, parallelism), and short, intensely lyrical poems makes him a precursor of modern poetry.