Benito Pérez Galdós: A Literary Journey Through 19th-Century Spain
Benito Pérez Galdós (1843-1920) was born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, but it was in Madrid where he developed his literary work, becoming a keen observer of this city. In 1862, he moved there to study law but never finished the degree. A progressive writer, always concerned about politics, Galdós accepted a seat in Congress under Sagasta. Three years later, he was elected to the Royal Spanish Academy. In 1892, he began his own theatrical reform, as he had done with the novel in 1870, but was
Read MoreJohn Dryden: Poet, Critic, and Playwright of the 17th Century
John Dryden (1631-1700): A Literary Titan
John Dryden, a dominant figure in the second half of the 17th century, was a poet, essayist, literary critic, dramatist, and translator. He cultivated most of the literary genres of his time.
Born in Northamptonshire, England, Dryden came from a landowning family with connections to Parliament and the Church of England. He studied at the Westminster School of London, where he was trained in rhetoric, a strong influence on his writing and critical thought throughout
T.S. Eliot on Metaphysical Poets and Sensibility
T.S. Eliot on Metaphysical Poets
We may express the difference by the following theory: The poets of the seventeenth century, the successors of the dramatists of the sixteenth, possessed a mechanism of sensibility which could devour any kind of experience. They are simple, artificial, difficult, or fantastic, as their predecessors were; no less nor more than Dante, Guido Cavalcanti, Guinicelli, or Cino. In the seventeenth century a dissociation of sensibility set in, from which we have never recovered;
Read MoreSpanish Romanticism in the 19th Century: Literature and Theater
Spanish Romanticism in the 19th Century
Historical Context of Spain in the 19th Century: Romanticism
Among the characteristics of Romanticism are:
- Irrationalism: It denies that reason can fully explain reality.
- Individualism and Subjectivism: Different from others, the individual asserts their ego against the surrounding world, which leads to loneliness.
- Idealism: A predilection for absolutes, for the ideal.
- Disenchantment: The clash between the self and reality in the Romantic artist produces a deep
Feudalism to Renaissance: Society in 14th-15th Century England
Historical Context of Social Division in England
Estates Division
_The tragedy of mankind and our necessity of order (which we cannot get by ourselves, according to the former mentality) was represented in society through the three Estates. The King ruled the country and had absolute power over the three classes. To protect him and the country were the nobles, represented by the archetypal figure of the Knight. To guide him and the country to God was the clergy, represented by the Monk. And to feed
Read MoreJoan Oliver’s Cain: Rebellion and Biblical Reinterpretation
Three Main Themes in Joan Oliver’s Work
Authoritarianism, Scriptural Use, and Nonconformism
As regards divine authority, various personages dare to intend to sustain themselves, either voluntarily or involuntarily: Lucifer, Adam and Eve, Cain. All are punished in a hard manner, more or less pronounced, but Cain continues to rebel,