Pirates, Monsters and Truth: Cultural Production in 19^th Century Spain

AUTHOR: Stephen Campbell
FACULTY: Dr. Jennie Daniels
DEPARTMENT: Spanish

ABSTRACT

In the 19^th century, Spanish society was in turmoil. The French Invasion of Spain (1808-1814), headed by Napoleon Bonaparte, provided adopted liberal ideas with the instituted Constitution of Cadiz (1812). After the era of independence in, an absolutist monarchy was established by Fernando VII (1814–1833). Culturally, historical "romanticism was set back" in relation to the rest of Northern Europe, as discussed by renowned Hispanic scholars such as Russell P. Sebold. Libertarians have historically been ostracized by the Spanish government, particularly under Fernando VII's reign. Because of their opposition to the authoritarian monarchy, Jose de Esperonceda and other Romantics were expelled from Spain as a direct consequence. By exploring the paintings of Francisco Goya—from the collection of Los Caprichos (1797–1798) and Las pinturas negras (1819–1823)—and then the poem of José de Espronceda’s "La canción del pirata" (1835), I will be arguing that Goya and Espronceda's works, as part of the Romantic movement, presented in their work the subjectivity of individuals advocating for individual rights and liberties.