Romanticism is an artistic and cultural movement that privileges emotions, subjectivity and individualism.
Contrary to objectivism and the classical traditions of perfection, it presents a human-centered worldview with an emphasis on human sensations and freedom of thought.
Romanticism emerged in Europe in the 18th century in the context of the industrial revolution and the Enlightenment, an intellectual and philosophical movement based on reason. It lasted until the mid-nineteenth century, when realism begins.
This style quickly reached other countries, inspiring different fields of art: literature, painting, sculpture, architecture and music.
In Brazil, the romantic movement began in the mid-nineteenth century, years after the country's independence (1822) with the publication of the work Poetic sighs and longing, by Gonçalves de Magalhães, in 1836.
Historical context
As a literary school, the foundations of romantic sentimentality and escapism through suicide were established by the novel "The sufferings of young Werther", by Goethe, published in Germany in 1774.
In England, Romanticism manifested itself in the early years of the nineteenth century, with emphasis on the ultra-Romantic poetry of Lord Byron and the historical novel Ivanhoe, by Walter Scott.
Also among the first works of the beginning of the romantic revolution in Europe are the books Manon Lescut, from the Arabic Prévost (1731), and the Tom Joses Story, by Henry Fielding (1749).
The novel, however, was already used in the Roman Empire, whose word Roman it was applied to designate the languages used by the peoples under its domain. Such languages were actually a popular form of Latin.
Popular and folkloric compositions written in Vulgar Latin, in prose or in verse and recounting fantasies and adventures, were also called novels.
And it was in the eighteenth century that it took on its current meaning, after passing through the forms of "chivalry romance, sentimental romance, pastoral romance" in Europe. The novel can be considered the successor of epic.
Main features
In the literature, the main characteristics of romanticism are:
- Opposition to the classic model;
- Prose text structure, long;
- Development of a central core;
- Broad narrative reflecting a time sequence;
- The individual becomes the center of attention;
- Emergence of a consumer audience (feuble);
- Use of free verses and white verses;
- Exaltation of nationalism, nature and homeland;
- Idealization of society, love and women;
- Creation of a national hero;
- Sentimentality and overvaluation of personal emotions;
- Subjectivism and egocentrism;
- Missing from childhood;
- Escape from reality.
Opposition to Classic
In the beginning, all movements in opposition to the classic were considered romantic. In this way, the models of Classical Antiquity were replaced by those of the Middle Ages when the bourgeoisie emerged.
Art, which used to be of noble and erudite character, starts to value the folkloric and the national. It goes beyond the barriers imposed by the Court and begins to gain people's attention.
Romantic art, by breaking through the walls of the Court and taking to the streets, freed itself from the demands of the nobles who paid for its production and began to have an anonymous audience. It is the emergence of the consumer public, driven in Brazil by the serials, a more accessible literature.
In prose, the formal aspect of Classicism is left out. The same happens with poetry, with free verses, without meter and without strophes. Poetry is also characterized by white verse, without rhyme.
Check the differences between Classicism and Romanticism in the table below:
Also read theCharacteristics of Classicism
Nationalism
Romantics preach nationalism, encourage the exaltation of the motherland nature, the return to the historical past and the creation of the national hero.
In European literature, national heroes are beautiful and brave medieval knights. In Brazil, the Indians are equally beautiful, brave and civilized.
Nature is also exalted in Romanticism. It is seen as an extension of the motherland or refuge from the hectic life of 19th century urban centers. The exaltation of nature takes on the contours of an extension of the writer and his emotional state.
romantic sentimentality
Among the main marks of Romanticism are sentimentality, overvaluation of personal emotions, subjectivism and self-centeredness. This is how poets placed themselves at the center of the universe.
Within a particular universe, the poet feels the defeat of the ego, produces frustration and boredom. Characteristics of the romantic movement are: the escapes from reality through the abuse of alcohol and opium, the idealization of women, society and love, as well as the longing for childhood and the constant search for homes of prostitution.
Romanticism in Portugal
The first years of Portuguese Romanticism coincided with civil struggles between liberals and conservatives. Dom Pedro's resignation from the Brazilian throne and his struggle for the throne of Portugal alongside the liberals, intensified these conflicts.
Literary romanticism in Portugal started with the publication, in 1825, of the poem Camões, written by Almeida Garrett. The work was produced during his exile in Paris.
In Portugal, the romantic movement was divided into 2 phases:
- First Romantic Generation: Nationalist Phase
- Second Romantic Generation: Maturity Phase
Authors and works of romanticism in Portugal
- Almeida Garret (1799-1854). Construction: Camões (1825), travels in my land (1846) and Fallen leaves (1853).
- Alexandre Herculano (1810-1877). Construction: The Believer's Harp (1838), Eurico the Elder (1844) and Poetry (1850).
- Antônio Feliciano de Castilho (1800-1875). Construction: love and melancholy (1828), the night of the castle (1836) and poetic excavations (1844).
- Camilo Castelo Branco (1825-1890). Construction: perdition love (1862), Heart, Head and Stomach (1862) and love of salvation (1864).
- Julius Dinis (1839-1871). Construction: Pupils of the Lord Rector (1866), an english family (1868) and The Morgadinha dos Canaviais (1868).
- Soares de Passos (1826-1860). Only published work: Poetry (1856).
- John of God (1830-1896). Construction: Bunch of flowers (1869) and Summer farewells (1880).
Romanticism in Brazil
In Brazil, two publications are considered the starting point of literary Romanticism. Both were launched in Paris, by Gonçalves de Magalhães, in 1836: the "Niterói Magazine" and the poetry book "Suspiros poéticos e saudades".
In the country, the movement was divided into three phases, or generations:
- first generation romantic (1836 to 1852): Nationalist-Indianist generation.
- second generation romantic (1853 to 1869): ultra-romantic generation.
- third generation romantic (1870 to 1880): Condor generation.
Authors and works from the first phase of romanticism in Brazil
- Gonçalves de Magalhães (1811-1882) - Works: Poetic sighs and longing (1836), The Tamoios Confederation (1857) and Brazil's Indigenous People in History (1860).
- Gonçalves Dias (1823-1864) - Works: exile song (1843), I-Juca-Pirama (1851) and the Timbiras (1857).
- José de Alencar (1829-1877) - Works: The Guarani (1857), iracema (1865) and Ubirajara (1874).
- Álvares de Azevedo (1831-1852) - Works: Twenty years lyre (1853), night in the tavern (1855) and Macarius (1855).
- Casimiro de Abreu (1839-1860) - Work: published only one book of poetry the springs (1859).
- Fagundes Varela (1841-1875) - Works: night (1861), Canticle of Calvary (1863) and corners and costumes (1865).
- Castro Alves (1847-1871) - Works: the slave ship (1869) and floating foams (1870).
- Tobias Barreto (1839-1889) - Works: Love (1866), slavery (1868) and days and nights (1893).
- Sousândrade (1833-1902) - Works: wild harps (1857) and the Guesa (1858 and 1888).
Read too:
- Romanticism in Brazil
- Romantic Prose in Brazil
- Brazilian Romantic Poetry
- Romantic Generations in Brazil
- Main works and authors of Romanticism
- questions about romanticism