The Enlightenment in Spain: Literature and Cultural Shifts
The Enlightenment gradually displaced the old regime. It gave rise to revolution during the French crisis. The Enlightenment and the War of Succession of Philip of Anjou and Archduke Charles were cultural and ideological movements that renewed the thinking and mentality of the 18th century.
Characteristics of the Enlightenment
- The desire for knowledge, utilitarianism, and the abandonment of the idea of absolute truths.
- Practical ideas and a new conception of reality.
- Ideas disseminated in the Encyclopedia.
Prose
The most important genre is the essay, which features theoretical exposition of ideas, thoughts, and critiques. These works aim to be doctrinal and disseminate Enlightenment ideas.
Key Authors
- Feijoo: Personal and clear language. His work includes theater criticism and universal scholarly letters. He defended the search for truth and women’s education.
- Luzán: Poetics. Distinguishes epic, lyric, and dramatic prose.
- Cadalso: From Cadiz, Madrid, and Zaragoza. Died in Gibraltar. In his youth, he wrote Leisure, My Prose: The Pseudo-Intellectuals, Noches Lúgubres, and Cartas Marruecas (Moroccan Letters).
- Jovellanos: Satire, drama, and prose. Addresses problems in the country. Works include: Reports on Public Entertainment, Report on Land Law, and Reports on Public Education. Known for simplicity, clarity, and elegance.
Nonfiction prose was created to spread Enlightenment ideas, facing material limitations and censorship. The purpose of newspapers in the 18th century was dissemination. Educational and fictional prose had lower readership.
Other Authors
- Villarroel: Known for his baroque taste. His work is a fictional autobiography.
- Padre Isla: Satirical novel: The Story of the Famous Preacher of the Gerund, Fray Gerundio de Campazas.
- Montegón: The Eusebio.
Poetry
Posbarroca: First half of the century, a continuation of baroque poetry. Authors: Wolf and Villarroel. Rococo style, influenced by European trends. Confrontation with the Baroque, returning to classical and Renaissance themes: pastoral themes, love, the pleasures of life, and metrical innovations. Authors: Torrepalma and Porcel.
Ilustrada: Topics include friendship and solidarity, education, the role of women in society, and critique of customs. The purpose of art should be didactic. Authors: García de la Huerta, Moratín, Cadalso, Samaniego, and Iriarte.
Prerromántica: Themes: loneliness, failure, love, and death. Authors: Cienfuegos and Quintana.
- Juan Meléndez Valdés: His poems are classified into four groups: Anacreontic, nature, sentimental, and philosophical doctrine. Affective tone, tender and emotional. Poems about friendship. Artful and delicate language.
Theater
Posbarroco: His car (short dramatic work) imitates stereotypes and flamboyant stagecraft. Themes: magic and intrigue of adventurers. Authors: Zamora and Cañizares.
Neoclassical: Brief theatrical power. Sainete (short comic sketch): a comic piece performed between the acts of plays. Author: Ramón de la Cruz.
Comedia Sentimental: Introduced political reform issues: inequality in marriage and the exaltation of bourgeois values. Author: Jovellanos, García de la Huerta.
Neoclassical Comedy: Accepted the three unities, the use of prose and verse, and a happy ending with didactic intention. Authors: Iriarte and Moratín. He composed poems of neoclassical orientation, including the elegy of the Muses. In prose, his diary provides a vision of the time. Theater for girls.