The Essay: From Montaigne to the 20th Century
The Essay
Definition and Origins
The essay is a prose composition, typically brief, that explores a personal interpretation of a specific topic. It delves into philosophical, scientific, historical, literary, or other subjects with depth, maturity, and sensitivity. The essayist’s perspective, shaped by reflection and meditation, is central. The essay distinguishes itself from lyric poetry through its language: the essay employs a more conceptual and expository style, while lyric poetry leans towards the intuitive and emotional.
The essay’s origins can be traced back to Michel de Montaigne’s Essais, which established the genre’s autonomy. Montaigne’s essays often stemmed from literary works and readings, but also drew inspiration from observations of human behavior, customs, and life experiences. While now considered a literary genre, the essay often takes the form of digressions, allowing the author to express thoughts on a particular topic, or even without a defined theme.
Characteristics of the Essay
- Free-form structure
- Synthetic and relatively short
- Wide-ranging themes
- Careful and intelligent style
- Varied tone, reflecting the author’s unique perspective
Types of Essays
Literary Essay
The literary essay is characterized by its thematic variety and freedom. It explores ideas from diverse disciplines, including morality, science, philosophy, history, and politics, creating a dynamic and free-flowing miscellany. The author’s personal impressions and reflections on life are paramount, resulting in a subjective viewpoint conveyed in an engaging style. The literary essay is a transgressive form, challenging aesthetic and moral norms, and serving as a critical product par excellence.
Scientific Essay
The scientific essay combines scientific reasoning with artistic imagination. While rooted in scientific principles, it acknowledges the role of imagination and poetic sensibility. It shares with science the fundamental goal of exploring reality and approaching the “truth” of things. It also shares with art its originality, beauty, and expressive intensity.
The term “journalistic essay” has also been used to describe essays published in newspapers or supplements.
The Essay in the First Third of the 20th Century / Generation of ’98
The early 20th century saw writers grappling with a general crisis of consciousness. In Spain, this coincided with the decline of the Restoration, a social crisis of values culminating in the “disaster” of 1898, which gave rise to the Generation of ’98. These writers were deeply concerned about Spain’s crisis and advocated for various forms of reform.
Beyond fiction, they expressed their views through essays published in the press, contributing to the development of the modern essay. A common theme united them: concern for Spain’s cultural identity.
Authors of the Generation of ’98
- Antonio Machado: Contributed to the development of the essay through articles and prose works like The Complementary.
- Angel Ganivet: A leading figure of regenerationism alongside Joaquin Costa. His most important work, Spanish Idearium, defends traits of Spanish identity: independence, individualism, and a warrior spirit.
- Ramiro de Maeztu: Evolved from revolutionary ideology to ultra-conservative positions. Author of Towards Another Spain.
- Miguel de Unamuno: Initially sympathetic to socialism, he underwent a religious crisis and explored the conflict between faith and reason. Key works include Around Casticism, The Life of Don Quixote and Sancho, and The Tragic Sense of Life.
- Azorín: Shifted from anarchist positions to a pragmatic, skeptical, and conservative ideology. Notable works include Essays of the Little Philosopher, The People, The Route of Don Quixote, Castilla, and Essays of Literary Criticism.
The Novecento Movement
The early decades of the 20th century witnessed the emergence of a group of liberal thinkers known as the Novecento. These intellectuals aimed to modernize Spain and bring about a moral change in individuals. This elitist group, associated with the bourgeoisie, played a significant role in public life.
Characteristics of the Novecento
- Europeanism: The Noucentists sought closer ties with Europe, which they associated with progress and science.
- Scientism: They proposed scientism as a solution to Spain’s backwardness and advocated for rigorous scientific education. They defended a culture grounded in reason and vital sensibility.
- New Life: They promoted courage, optimism, and joy.
- Political Reform: They sought to rationalize Spain’s political life and contribute to its modernization.
- Essay: They favored the essay as a form of expression and emphasized stylistic excellence.
Authors of the Novecento
- José Ortega y Gasset: A highly influential figure in early 20th-century Spanish culture and thought. He assumed a role of intellectual leadership. His diverse works include:
- Philosophical Essays: Meditations on Quixote, The Spectator, and essays exploring personal experiences.
- Essays on Aesthetic Ideas: The Dehumanization of Art, which examines the emergence of a new, dehumanizing artistic style appealing to a select minority.
- Essays on Socio-Political Ideas: Invertebrate Spain, addressing Spain’s decline through a process of disintegration marked by national separatism, social disruption, and indiscipline of the masses. The Revolt of the Masses, arguing that a nation should be governed by a select minority.
- Manuel Azaña: Served as minister and president of the Second Spanish Republic. Reflected on Spanish history and proposed measures for modernization.
- Eugenio d’Ors: Initially involved in Catalan nationalism, his essays and articles, known as “glosses,” were published in the press. He championed reason, balance, and proposed a new classicism: an intellectual art governed by rules of proportion and beauty, as seen in Three Hours in the Prado Museum.
- Gregorio Marañón: Analyzed gender relations and the role of women in society in works like Three Essays on Sex Life. He also wrote biographies and explored medical hypotheses.
- Salvador de Madariaga: Produced historical, cultural, political, and sociological essays, including Englishmen, Frenchmen, Spaniards.