Romanticism in Literature: Spanish Movement, Key Authors, and Artistic Expression
The Essence of Romanticism
Romanticism was a revolutionary movement across all spheres of life. Its precursors include Rousseau and Goethe. It sought to make things more intimate and profound. Key authors were Lord Byron and Victor Hugo, who championed freedom in life.
Romanticism in Spain: A Brief but Complex Era
In Spain, Romanticism arrived late and was relatively short-lived. It is considered a complex cultural movement marked by many contradictions, ranging from rebellion and revolutionary ideas to a return to Catholic monarchist tradition. While political freedom was a common theme, it also led many writers to embrace traditional ideological, patriotic, and religious values.
Key Characteristics of Spanish Romanticism
- Individualism: A clear manifestation of the self.
- Irrationalism: Emphasis on emotions, dreams, and fantasies.
- Defense of Liberty: Feeling is the sole guide to conduct, seeking originality and love.
- Idealism: Poets intuitively penetrate the unknown, pursuing mysterious, unattainable ideals that often lead to disappointment.
- Nationalism: Valuing national traits, history, and customs.
- Exoticism: Works often set in distant or unfamiliar places.
- Rebellious Youth Spirit: Addressing the concerns and anxieties of youth.
- Rejection of Neoclassicism: Combining different genres and artistic approaches.
- Subjectivism: Authors express feelings of dissatisfaction and inner turmoil.
- Melancholy and Mystery: Romanticism often depicted gloomy, mysterious, and dark themes. Characters are drawn to mysterious nature and seek to escape their mundane surroundings.
Pioneers of Spanish Romanticism
In Spain, one of the early Romantic writers was Bonaventura Carles Aribau.
Romantic Poetry: Themes and Style
In poetry, lyric poetry saw significant development, a genre perfectly suited to express deep feelings. Themes in Romantic poetry included:
- The self and intimacy
- Love and passion
- Historical and legendary themes
- Social demands
- Mysterious nature
- Political and literary satire
Prominent poets included Goethe, Heine, Lord Byron, Victor Hugo, and José de Espronceda. Poems varied in length, characterized by high-sounding rhetoric, expressive style, and abundant exclamations. Authors embraced creative freedom, often employing polymetry and traditional romance forms.
Romantic Prose: Novels, Journalism, and Costumbrismo
Romantic prose encompassed the novel, scientific prose, journalism, and costumbrismo (manners). The historical novel, in particular, captured the Romantic influence, often set in the medieval past, which was seen as more noble than the ‘vulgar’ modern era. A prime example is Walter Scott’s Ivanhoe. Two main trends emerged:
- Liberal: Often anticlerical and populist.
- Moderate Traditionalist: Characterized by Catholic exaltation.
Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, through his legends, significantly developed folk literature in Spain. Costumbrismo appeared in cuadros de costumbres (sketches of manners), short articles describing contemporary society’s folk customs, characters, and rural occupations. These works often criticized modern trends and evoked nostalgia for the past. Ramón de Mesonero Romanos was a notable author in this genre.
Romantic Drama: Freedom, Passion, and Fatal Destiny
The Romantic drama, while still appreciating Golden Age plays, saw the triumph of works like Los amantes de Teruel and Don Álvaro o la fuerza del sino by the Duke of Rivas. Freedom prevailed in the theater, influencing all aspects:
- Structure: Abandonment of the three unities (time, place, action).
- Form: Dramas typically had five acts, often with varied meter.
- Elements: Abundant stage directions and a resurgence of the monologue.
- Action: Gained momentum through the use of diverse settings within a single performance.
- Nature: Reflected the characters’ feelings and moods.
- Themes: Legendary adventurers, chivalric tales, or historical-national narratives, with love and freedom as central motifs. Common elements included night scenes, duels, suicide, and cynicism.
- Characters: Typically featured a brave and mysterious male hero, and an innocent, faithful heroine. Both are marked by intense passion and a fatal destiny, with death often seen as a release.
In Romantic theater, the dynamism of the actions often took precedence over character psychology.
Key Playwrights of Spanish Romantic Drama
- Duke of Rivas: His reputation was built on his legends, but Don Álvaro o la fuerza del sino solidified his place as it was the first work to combine Spanish Romantic prose and verse.
- José Zorrilla: His most important work was Don Juan Tenorio. He also wrote Legends and the famous drama El zapatero y el rey.