Post-War Spanish Literature: A Study of Existential and Social Novels
The Existential Novel (1940-1950)
During the early postwar years, a gender gap existed in narrative, and significant authors of fiction from before the Civil War had either died or were in exile. In Spain, only Pío Baroja, revered by younger writers, remained a prestigious figure, though already in decline. However, 1942 saw the publication of The Family of Pascual Duarte by Camilo José Cela, a novel that initiated a new trend called “tremendismo,” marking the recovery of the genre. Nothing, by Carmen Laforet, followed in 1945. Both works introduced distressed and dissatisfied characters, reflecting existential themes.
Features of the Existential Novel:
- Subjects: Loneliness, frustration, death, set in a miserable and degraded world.
- Characters: The protagonist is a unique individual, often violent, oppressed, or indecisive. They are placed in situations that lead to violence, routine, and isolation.
- Space and Time: Space is limited, often interior, reflecting urban environments. Time is also compressed, with narratives covering only a few hours or days.
- Narrator: Predominantly a first-person narrator, where the narrator and protagonist coincide.
These novels reflect the social unrest of the time.
The Family of Pascual Duarte:
This book is considered the initiator of “tremendismo” due to its depiction of violent and cruel aspects of existence, a term the author himself did not accept. The protagonist, Pascual Duarte, is an antihero, a marginalized individual who resorts to gratuitous violence. He is a subjective narrator, offering episodes that justify his crimes. The work connects to the literary tradition of the picaresque novel, the autobiographical story, and the low social status of Pascual’s parents. It also links to the naturalistic novel through the characterization of the protagonist, whose actions are conditioned by their social environment and biological heritage.
The Social Novel (1950-1960)
These are works of social criticism addressing injustice and class inequality. The authors aimed to reflect Spanish reality and evoke sympathy for the underprivileged.
Features of the Social Novel:
- Topics: Spanish society is the central theme, focusing on the hard lives of peasants, poverty, injustice, and solidarity with the oppressed.
- Characters: The protagonist shifts from an individual to a collective.
- Time: The action occurs over short periods (one or several days), emphasizing the present.
- Narrator: Predominantly a third-person narrator. The author’s role diminishes as the existential narrator becomes a witness, refraining from judgment and simply chronicling events.
Representative Works:
The Road (1950) by Miguel Delibes, The Hive (1951) by Camilo José Cela. The Hive, with over 300 characters, presents fragments of daily life filled with misery and hardship. It lacks a strong plot, aiming to depict the degradation of post-war Spain, where money, sex, and hunger become the primary concerns. Among Curtains (1958) by Carmen Martin Gaite; Surf (1958) by Juan Goytisolo, Red Leaf (1959), Rats (1962) by Miguel Delibes.