Romanticism in 19th Century Europe and Spain: Characteristics, Authors, and Works

Posted on Sep 5, 2024 in Music

Romanticism

End of the Old Regime: Rise of the bourgeoisie.
Industrial Revolution: Development of modern capitalism.
Shift from Estate to Class Society: Contest between nobility and bourgeoisie. Growing awareness and unrest among the proletariat.
Politics: Rise of liberalism as the bourgeoisie sought political power following the French Revolution. Continuous revolutionary movements.
Development of Nationalism: Initially fueled by opposition to Napoleon, later driven by economic and political factors (e.g., Greek War of Independence, unifications of Germany and Italy, Spanish national awakening).
Colonialism: Struggle for markets and raw materials.

Delayed Development: Particularly in the first half of the century, compared to the rest of Europe.
Weak Bourgeoisie: Limited industrial development, concentrated in Catalonia and the Basque Country.
Ideological Struggle: Between progressive and reactionary forces (the latter supported by the Church).
Social Tensions: Arising from the developing labor movement.
Intellectual Clash: Between freethinkers (followers of Krause) and traditional Catholic thought.
Political Conflict: War of Independence (1808-1814), abrogation of the Constitution of Cadiz, rule of Ferdinand VII, Carlist Wars, the Glorious Revolution (1868), loss of colonies (Cuba and the Philippines) in 1898.

Emphasis on Individualism: Marked by a celebration of free life, rebellion against societal norms, and exaltation of the self. Feeling over reason. Ethos of disappointment, frustration, and sadness. Preference for marginalized characters (e.g., pirates, beggars).
Struggle Against Constraints: Desire to change the world or escape to idealized realms (e.g., exotic locations, the Medieval period, a literary afterlife).
Aesthetic and Creative Freedom: Rejection of rigid rules, leading to a blurring of genres, mixing of prose and verse, and exploration of unconventional themes and aesthetics. Search for originality and rejection of blind imitation. Expressive and dramatic excesses in language, including the use of vivid imagery, symbolism, and emotional vocabulary.
Importance of Nature: Nature as a reflection of the author’s mood and a powerful symbol. Preference for wild, mysterious, and solitary landscapes. Fascination with the night, the supernatural, and the macabre.
The Romantic Hero: Often amoral, innocent, mysterious, and rebellious, embroiled in impossible plots, revenge, and passionate love affairs.
Value of National Identity: Defense of language, history, folklore, and traditions.

Historical Novels: Lord of Bembibre by Gil y Carrasco.
Costumbrista Literature (Genre Paintings in Prose): Scenes Matritenses by Mesonero Romanos.
Mariano José de Larra (1809-1837): A quintessential Romantic figure known for his over 200 articles on politics, literature, and customs. Notable works include “The Old Castilian,” “Come Back Tomorrow,” “The Day of the Dead, 1836,” and “Coffee.” Larra’s writing style was deceptively simple, clear, and direct, yet laced with biting irony, double meanings, puns, and paradox.

While neoclassical tastes still held sway, Romantic drama emerged with its focus on rebellious heroes, historical or legendary themes, and a break from the traditional unities of time, place, and action.
Notable Works: Don Alvaro, or the Force of Fate by the Duke of Rivas and Don Juan Tenorio by José Zorrilla.

Freedom in Form: Mixing of stanzas, revival of traditional forms like the romance and the silva, use of various rhyme schemes and rhythms to create musicality.
Themes: Liberty, love, death, exoticism, and legend.
Language: Connotative, symbolic, emotionally charged, and often employing religious and rhetorical devices.

Epic or Narrative Poetry: Often centered on historical, legendary, or exotic themes. Examples include The Student of Salamanca and The Devil World by Espronceda, historical romances by the Duke of Rivas, and popular legends like A Good Judge, Best Witness by José Zorrilla.
Lyric Poetry: Deeply subjective and sentimental, exploring themes of love, nature, loneliness, the hardships of life, religiosity, patriotism, and freedom.

First Generation (1770-1840): Coexisted with neoclassicism. Key figure: Rosa.
High Romanticism: Characterized by exalted poetry and rhetorical excess. Key figures: Espronceda and Gil y Carrasco (known for “The Pirate Song”).
Post-Romanticism: Influenced by Heinrich Heine, this phase saw a shift towards more intimate and essential poetry. Key figures: Bécquer and Rosalía de Castro.

Exiled for his liberal views during the reign of Ferdinand VII, Espronceda was exposed to English, French, and Dutch Romanticism, earning him the nickname “the Spanish Lord Byron.”
Notable Works: “Canto a Teresa” (a poignant elegy for his deceased lover), “Pirate Song” (his most popular work), The Student of Salamanca (a verse drama exploring Romantic love, a precursor to Zorrilla’s Don Juan Tenorio), and The Devil World (a social commentary featuring a protagonist who witnesses the full spectrum of human destinies and tragedies).

Orphaned at a young age, Bécquer developed a passion for literature through his godmother’s extensive library.
His life was marked by unrequited love for Julia Espín, an unhappy marriage to Casta Esteban, poor health, and a premature death.
Considered the epitome of Spanish Romantic intimacy and a pivotal figure in the development of modern Spanish poetry.
Notable Works: Letters from My Cell (written during a period of convalescence), Legends (prose tales imbued with Romantic themes of mystery, fantasy, and the power of nature), and Rhymes (originally titled Book of the Sparrows, this collection of poems, published posthumously, explores themes of love, disillusionment, despair, and death with remarkable musicality, intimacy, and a deceptively simple yet evocative style).

The Novel: Often historical or legendary in nature. Key examples include Lord of Bembibre by Gil y Carrasco and El Doncel de Don Enrique el Doliente by Larra.
The Social Novel: A subgenre that emerged with works like Mary, or the Laborer’s Daughter by Cecilia Böhl de Faber (Fernán Caballero).
Costumbrismo: Short sketches and vignettes offering satirical glimpses into everyday life, often considered precursors to the realist novel. Notable authors include Mesonero Romanos (Scenes Matritenses) and Serafín Estébanez Calderón (Andalusian Scenes).