JACINTO BENAVENTE: BIOGRAPHY, STYLE AND COMPLETE WORKS - LITERATURE - 2025

Jacinto Benavente y Martínez (1866-1954) was an important Spanish film playwright, writer, producer, and screenwriter. He stood out for his interest in the good use of the language on a day-to-day basis. In addition, he was known for covering the different dramatic genres in his various theatrical works.

Benavente's work was a light for the development of theater in the Spanish language, due to its ability to generate a majestic and impeccable staging. He was strongly influenced by the works of European writers who set the standard in his time.

Jacinto Benevente. Source: Photoprint by Bain News Service, via Wikimedia Commons

On the other hand, the plays of the playwright were not always impregnated with the purity of the dramatic art. Many times they lost interest in the decorations on stage, and the vain character. However, Jacinto Benavente did not give up, and knew how to please the audience.

Biography

Jacinto Benavente was born in the city of Madrid on August 12, 1866. He was the son of a renowned pediatrician named Mariano Benavente. Little is known about his mother, but his name was Venancia Martínez. He was the youngest of three brothers.

Benavente studies

Jacinto Benavente received a very good education since he was a child. His first years of training were at the San Jacinto Institute. Although his father's profession made him feel an interest in medicine, he decided to study law at the Central University of Madrid.

In 1885 his father died, an event that led him to abandon his career. However, he took advantage of his inheritance to dedicate himself to what he really loved: literature. He also made trips to some countries in Europe.

Development of his work

At twenty-six years of age the young Jacinto began to occupy a place in the Spanish theater. In 1892 he published his first theatrical work, entitled Fantastic Theater. He did not leave writing behind, and did the same with poetry, short stories, and criticism in 1893.

El nido Ajeno was one of Benavente's most recognized works. However, on the date of its premiere, on October 6, 1894, it did not achieve the desired success. Perhaps it was the plot and staging too innovative for an audience that was still used to the traditional.

The playwright continued to write and produce. In 1896 he gave the public a critique of high society, which he entitled Known People. Two years later he innovated with The Food of the Wild Beasts. He was the founder of artistic theater as a form of art rescue.

In 1903 Jacinto Benavente was already a consecrated author and creator. At that time, one of his biggest hits came out on stage: Saturday night. Two years later, Roses of Autumn, and in 1907 The vested interests, considered by critics a great piece.

Distinctions, awards and other aspects

The work of the playwright Jacinto Benavente was worthy of innumerable awards and distinctions. Among the most prominent were the 1922 Nobel Prize in Literature, while the city of New York awarded him the mention of Adoptive Son (1923) and Madrid did the same in 1924.

Benavente also received in 1944 the Great Cross of Alfonso X El Sabio, which was a Spanish civil order to reward outstanding works in science, culture and education. Finally, there was the Gold Medal for Merit at Work (1950) for his exemplary performance in his profession.

Personal life

Very little is known about the personal life of the playwright. Some historians claimed that during his work as a circus entrepreneur he fell in love with an aerialist. Meanwhile, others suggest that his sexuality was inclined towards men. Benavente never affirmed it, but neither did he deny it.

Benavente's achievements

The impetus of Jacinto Benavente allowed him to enter the Royal Spanish Academy in 1912. He also carried out political life serving as a deputy in 1918. In addition, he participated in the founding of the Association of Friends of the Soviet Union, on February 11, 1933.

Jacinto Benevente reading one of his works. Source: Christian Franzen

This association was created by Spanish intellectuals to nourish themselves and exchange ideas about socialism in the Soviet Union and Spain. The idea was to truthfully publish the events, as well as the achievements of the Soviet Republic.

The writer was also president of the Association of Spanish Writers and Artists between 1948 and 1954. The institution was in charge of protecting the interests of writers and art professionals, and also of preserving and disseminating the cultural heritage.

Death of the playwright

Jacinto Benavente y Martínez died at 87 years of age, in the city of Madrid, on July 14, 1954. The death of the writer left a great void in the literary world and on the stage. However, his passage through life was one of productivity and success.

Style

Jacinto Benavente managed to make renovations and innovations in the Spanish theater. Most of his work was devoted to producing traditional plays. He managed to separate himself from melodrama through a new language, liveliness of the dialogues and characteristics of his characters.

With his works and a sarcastic touch, he denounced the actions of politicians and judicial entities. At the same time, he managed to gain full knowledge of the Spanish language. This allowed him to make changes in the use of the language used on a day-to-day basis.

Complete works

Jacinto Benavente reached almost two hundred published works. At first it was addressed to the Spanish bureaucracy; later, through innovation and renewal, it was able to reach all types of audiences. The following are just a few of the most important:

- The charm of an hour (1892).

- Verses (1893).

- The alien's nest (1894).

- The husband of Téllez (1897).

- The food of the beasts (1898).

- The angora cat (1900).

- Unintentionally (1901).

- Triumphant soul (1902).

- Saturday night (1903).

- The fire dragon (1904).

- Autumn roses (1905).

- The baby princess (1906).

- Stronger than love (1906).

- The vested interests (1907).

- Lady loves (1908).

- The school of the princesses (1909).

- The slab of dreams (1911).

- La malquerida (1913).

- The own estimate (1915).

- The happy and confident city (1916).

- The Immaculate of Sorrows (1918).

- The Western Vestal (1919).

- Nobody knows what he wants (1925).

- Crossed lives (1929).

- When the children of Eve are not the children of Adam (1931).

- And bitter (1941).

- Love must be sent to school (1950).

- His loving wife (1950).

- Don Juan has arrived (1952).

- The pin in the mouth (1953).

- Prisoner souls (1953).

- Little Red Riding Hood scares the wolf (1953).

- The bronze husband (1954).

Brief synopsis of his most outstanding works

The other's nest

Jacinto Benavente Square. Source: Rubén Vique, via Wikimedia Commons

This work was released on October 6, 1894. It was structured in three acts. It was based on a story of love, jealousy and hatred between two brothers, José Luís and Manuel, who grew apart because the second fell in love with the first's wife.

Finally it is discovered that José Luís's suspicions are unfounded, and both brothers were able to reconcile. It was framed within the genre of comedy; however, the audience failed to fully understand her. The play has been recreated over the years.

Téllez's husband

The play was premiered on February 13, 1897, at the Lara Theater in the city of Madrid. The play told the story of a couple of comedians, who interpreted the world differently, which made their differences marked.

The angora cat

This play by Benavente was premiered on March 31, 1900, at the Teatro de la Comedia in Madrid. The playwright structured it into four acts, and it developed within the genre of comedy. It was about the love that Aurelio's character felt for Silvia, who was distant and cold with him.

Saturday night

It was premiered on March 7, 1903, at the Spanish Theater in the city of Madrid. The plot was based on the love that the dancer Imperia, later a prostitute, felt for Prince Michael. When the daughter of the protagonist dies, she goes after her lover.

The fire dragon

The play developed the life of King Danisar, of the fantastic kingdom of Nirvan, who had neither the strength nor the courage to rule. Then an invasion began that turns the monarchy on its head. It was structured in three acts, plus a prologue.

Autumn roses

The premiere of this work took place on April 13, 1905. Benavente developed a kind of love triangle in which Isabel, Gonzalo's wife, learned that Gonzalo has fallen in love with another named Josefina. In turn, the husband of Gonzalo's first daughter in the previous marriage, is also interested in Josefina.

Baby princess

The baby princess tells the story of a young woman who is forced by her uncle, Emperor Michael Alexander to marry a man she does not love. She wishes to divorce and join her true love, named Rosmer. Finally she renounces her rights within the monarchy.

Stronger than love

This four-act play premiered at the Teatro Español (Madrid) on February 22, 1906. It developed the story of Carlos's illness and the care of his beloved Carmen, who took care of him with great care. However, the patient believes that the lady was still in love with an old love.

Faced with Carlos's hostility, Carmen leaves the house. However, the convalescent man asks for forgiveness, and not to abandon him in the state in which he is. The woman considers the request, and stays to accompany her until the last days of her life.

Vested interests

Book «Comedies», by Jacinto Benevente. Source: Manuel Tovar Siles

This theatrical piece was premiered on December 9, 1907, at the Lara Theater in Madrid. It was set in the seventeenth century, and told the story of Leandro and Crispín, two clever men who arrived in Italy, and with their verbiage they tried to make us believe that the former was a rich man.

The idea was for Leandro to marry Polochinela's daughter in order to become really rich. Finally, the love became true. It is one of the best known works of Benavente. The theater piece was worthy of several recognitions, among them that of the Royal Spanish Academy.

Lady loves

Jacinto Benavente had the opportunity to premiere this play on February 22, 1908 in Madrid, at the then well-known Teatro de la Princesa. It narrated the story of Dominica, who while recently married suffered the infidelities of her husband Feliciano.

The malquerida

La malquerida is one of the most recognized and remembered works by Jacinto Benavente. It was premiered at the Teatro de la Princesa (Madrid) on December 12, 1913. The argument was based on the relationship of Doña Raimunda, his daughter Acacia and Esteban.

Raimunda married when she became a widow, but her daughter rejected her new partner. Later it is known that Acacia and Esteban actually had a secret relationship; and he dedicated himself to pushing all of the girl's suitors out of the way.

Ermine field

Campo de Armiño developed the story of Doña Irene, who held the title of Marchioness of Montalbán. She let Gerardo, a young man whom she believed to be her nephew, stay at her house. Eventually it was discovered that the man was not related to the lady at all.

The Immaculate of Sorrows

The argument of this work by Benavente was framed in the mourning that a woman kept for her future husband, who died before the wedding took place. She acted as if she had actually married. The parents of the deceased were his protectors.

Nobody knows what they want

This play is also known as The Dancer and the Worker. It is the story between Carlos, an attractive gentleman and dancer, and the young Luisa.

The boy's charm did not give confidence to the girl's parents. The latter, as a measure of pressure, put him to the test by asking him to work in the family business.

Lifes crossed

Benavente developed a story of interests and love, where Eugenia Castrojeriz had to turn to her suitor, Enrique Garcimora, to pay off her brother's debts. Eugenia had to marry the man, but the adversity was greater than love.

When the children of Eve are not the children of Adam

It was premiered on November 5, 1931 at the Calderón Theater in Madrid. The play is a drama that tells the story of a Jewish musician named Carlos Werner. The center of it all lies in how one of the musician's daughters gets involved in an incestuous relationship with a brother she didn't know.

And bitter

The play was released on November 19, 1941 at the Teatro de la Zarzuela, in Madrid. He told the story of a young playwright who was on his way to success. However, the support and admiration that his mother-in-law gave him was a reason for mistrust from the environment.

The honesty of the lock

It is a story of death. It was based on the death of a woman, who had previously gone to a married couple's house to ask for money to be saved for him. The next day the woman died. From then on the play develops between drama and chaos.

The infanzona (

It was released in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on December 6, 1945. It was about Doña Isabel, a single woman, mother of a child. Although the boy did not know his father, something tells him that he was murdered by his uncles, that is, his mother's brothers.

The story takes a 180 degree turn when it is discovered that the young man turned out to be the son of Isabel's brother. An incestuous relationship had occurred. The desperation of the woman caused her to kill her own brother.

Worship

Adoración premiered in Madrid on December 3, 1948. It was structured in a prologue and two acts. It is a story that developed around death; Isidro dies after arguing with Eulalia. Rosendo, a lover of the murderer, blames himself for the crime.

Love must be sent to school

It is the story of Victorina and Florencio, who have a hopelessly broken marriage, but who pretend to be fine just to convince his sister to marry her boyfriend. It was premiered on September 29, 1950 at the Lara Theater in the city of Madrid.

Don Juan has arrived

Jacinto Benavente premiered this play on April 12, 1952. At the Teatro de la Comedia in the city of Barcelona (Spain). He structured it in two acts plus a prologue.

It narrated the story of a Juan Tenorio, a man who came to the town of Moraleda to transform the habits and morals of its inhabitants.

References

1. Jacinto Benavente. (2018). Spain: Wikipedia. Recovered from: wikipedia.org
2. Biography of Jacinto Benavente. Who was. (2017). Mexico: Who.Net Thousands of Biographies. Recovered from: who.net
3. Tamaro, E. (2018). Jacinto Benavente. (N / a): Biographies and Lives: The Online Biographical Encyclopedia. Recovered from: biografiasyvidas.com
4. Calatayud, Diego. (2012). Biography of Jacinto Benavente. (N / a): Current Literature. Recovered from: actualliteraria.com
5. Jacinto Benavente. (2018). Cuba: EcuRed. Recovered from: ecured.cu.