Spanish Enlightenment literature

After the death of Philip V, Ferdinand VI (1746–1759) succeeded him, who, with ministers like Carvajal and the Marquess of Ensenada, improved the country's communications and road network, encouraged naval constructions and favored the development of the sciences.

Without leaving the model of the Ancien Régime, he modernized the country, repopulated the Sierra Morena, and favored education, commerce and public works.

In the last decades of the 17th century, the Ancien Régime, based on the predominance of the ecclesiastical, military and aristocratic classes, entered into crisis in Europe.

The need was felt to travel for study or pleasure, to learn other languages, to practice sports to strengthen the body or to improve the living conditions of the citizens.

In opposition to absolute monarchies, Montesquieu defended the foundations of modern constitutionalism and the separation of the legislative, executive and judicial powers.

The Enlightenment theories had their origin in England, although they reached their peak in France, where they were collected in the Encyclopédie (1751–1772), edited by Jean Le Rond d'Alembert and Denis Diderot.

Nevertheless, some intellectuals since the end of the 17th century refused to abandon their research; not without risk, they were always up-to-date on European discoveries in astronomy, medicine, mathematics or botany.

With a French political conception, Philip V fortified the monarchic power and promoted a process of centralization in the nation, abolishing the fueros and laws of Aragón and Catalonia.

The monarchs gradually reduced some privileges of the hereditary aristocracy and adopted a regalist or critical position towards the church, with the intent of carrying out a series of basic reforms.

At the end of century, the quality of life of the Spanish people had been improved, as demonstrated by the increase in population of almost three million inhabitants, a figure which is nevertheless smaller than that of other European countries.

The reformers, in spite of counting on the support of the Crown, did not obtain the recognition of the privileged groups; many were described as pro-French and accused of attacking Spanish traditions and religious education.

Spaniards wanted to return to the splendor of the Golden Age as a literary language, but for that it was necessary to develop forms of expression in accordance with the European experimental sciences, a task which was carried out by Feijoo, Sarmiento, Mayans, Jovellanos, Forner, and Capmany, among others.

In 1813, after the War of Independence, the Board created by the Regency to carry out a general reform of education ordered the exclusive use of the Spanish in the university.

Many of the enlightened people, for the modernization of Spain, defended the introduction of the teaching of other languages (French, English, Italian) in the centers, and the translation of outstanding works into Castilian.

This prose is partly educational and doctrinal, showing a desire to approach the problems of the moment and tending toward the reform of customs; it usually makes use of the epistolary form.

The Spanish Universalist School of the 18th century defined the great current, largely composed of enlightened and expelled Jesuits, in regard to these genres.

Belonging to a wealthy family, he studied law and was assigned to Seville, where he made epistolary contact with the poetic school of Salamanca.

When he lost the confidence of the minister, he was imprisoned in Mallorca in Bellver Castle until the Tumult of Aranjuez, which overthrew Godoy, gave him back his freedom.

He was pursued by the French and tried to move to Cadiz, but the inclement weather forced him to take refuge in the port of Vega de Navia, where he died.

In Noches lúgubres he narrates in dialogue the frustrated longing of the main character Tediato, to rescue the body of his beloved from the tomb.

The book Los eruditos a la violeta is entirely eighteenth-century, in which he lashes out against false intellectuals, seven lessons that satirize those who pretend to know a lot by studying little.

Once his mentor, Jovellanos, fell in disgrace before Godoy, he was ordered to be exiled to Medina del Campo, later to Zamora and finally to Salamanca.

In the Sevillian school, poets like Manuel María de Arjona (1771–1820), José Marchena (1768–1820), Joseph Blanco White (1775–1841) and Alberto Lista (1775–1848) stood out.

They wrote patriotic poems urging people to fight for freedom after the invasion of the French and the return of Ferdinand VII in the early 19th century.

Although less rationalist than other genres, tragedy cultivated historical themes, as is the case of the best known, Raquel, by Vicente García de la Huerta.

But undoubtedly the most representative theater of the time was that of Leandro Fernández de Moratín, creator of what has come to be called Moratinian comedy.

Th sainete writer Ramón de la Cruz (Madrid, 1731–1794) was one of the authors most applauded by the public and most criticized by the neoclassicals (although some of them, seeing the popular support of his works, retracted their views).

The characters of this theater subgenre are popular (manolas, majos, mocked husbands, bricklayers, chestnut sellers, ruined noblemen, etc.)

With his maxim "I write and the truth dictates to me", he could find in the people an inexhaustible source, the same one that, with greater depth, would inspire Francisco de Goya.

Thus, in José Cadalso's Las noches lúgubres, madness, gloomy and nocturnal atmospheres and a great amorous passion are introduced.