JOSÉ DE ESPRONCEDA: BIOGRAPHY AND WORKS - LITERATURE - 2024

José de Espronceda y Delgado (1808-1842) was a prominent Spanish writer who belonged to the literary current of Romanticism. Many of his writings were influenced by European authors, for example Walter Scott. His works had the characteristic of being charged with fantasy.

Many of this author's works focused on defending the weakest and liberal causes. The passion of his personality is reflected in his poetry. The rhythm and sound of the verses were the main contribution to popularize his written work.

José de Espronceda. Source: Antonio María Esquivel

De Espronceda combined his literary work with politics. Descent from an important family of the time allowed him to rub shoulders with the most transcendental rulers. That made it easier for him to be elected as a deputy to the courts, representing Almería.

The life of the Spanish writer was not always full of benefits. He faced the death of his parents, persecution and jail. In addition to the abandonment by his wife. The details of the most relevant aspects of the life of José de Espronceda are described later.

Biography

José de Espronceda was born on March 25, 1808 in the municipality of Almendralejo, in the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain. There is no precise information on his parents, but it is known that he came from a well-positioned family. It is known that his father belonged to the Spanish army, he held the position of colonel.

Childhood and youth with free ideals

His father's military rank allowed him to live in different places. After entering the San Mateo school in the city of Madrid, he became a student of the poet Alberto Lista. From a very young age he had a passion for literature and politics; both were part of his life.

With his writer friends, Patricio de la Escosura and Ventura de La Vega, when he was 15 years old, he created a secret society to avenge the death of the Spanish military and politician Rafael del Riego. The group was called “Los Numantinos”, and it functioned between 1823 and 1825.

Alberto de Lista's school was closed because of the ideas and thoughts he taught the students. This event encouraged de Espronceda and other friends to create the Mirto Academy to continue with the training of students. It was there that the writer developed his first poetic works.

His rebellion cause of exile

The constant intellectual activities of the poet, as well as his various interventions in Spanish politics, caused his exile. In 1825 he was sentenced to leave Madrid for five years. Later they decided that it would only be three months, so he went to a convent in Guadalajara.

A time for literary activity

In 1825 Espronceda made the decision to dissociate himself from political activity. He did it for two years, and he devoted himself fully to poetry. Around that time he wrote several of his youth poems, in addition he conceived and wrote a part of El Pelayo, a work that he continued until 1835.

With the creation of his lyrical work he supported the teachings of his teacher Lista, as well as the influence he had from the poets from Salamanca and Seville. That was the stage where he wrote Vida del Campo and La Tormenta de Noche. They were fruitful years for the writer.

Denial of entry to the Royal College

Espronceda's father tried to get his son to enter the Royal and Military College of the Marine Guards Knights, but failed because the legal documents were not up to date, and the poet was almost 18 years old. It was the year 1826 by then, and he had no intention of preparing professionally.

A year later he traveled from Madrid to Portugal. However, the political moment that was lived in the European country led him to be confined in the castle of Sao Vicente, later he was expelled along with other political exiles to London. It is in Portugal where he met Teresa, however, there are no faithful documents that support it.

Relationship with Teresa Mancha

Teresa Mancha was the daughter of Colonel Epifanio Mancha, who was imprisoned in the Castillo San Jorge, in Portugal. Apparently the relationship between the two had many disagreements. Espronceda had a daughter with said woman; after a while she decided to abandon him.

War and journalistic activities

He arrived in London in September 1827. Later he went to live in France, where he actively participated in the first steps of the revolution. After the death of Fernando VII he returned to his land. In Madrid he joined the National Militia, working as a journalist.

When it was 1834, he joined the Royal Guard, but was removed from Madrid again for fear of his ideals and political alterations. The time he spent in the town of Cuéllar was dedicated to writing Sancho Saldaña, also known as El Castellano de Cuéllar, a historical novel.

His political life was active. He was secretary for Spain in the embassy of The Hague, deputy in Almería and parliamentarian in the Cortes Generales. Espronceda always stood firm before his ideals, and skillfully managed to combine his two great passions: literature and politics.

Death of Espronceda

Sepulcher of José de Espronceda. Source: Asqueladd

The Spanish writer and politician remained active in his tasks, until death befell him. What started as a sore throat turned into diphtheria. He died in Madrid on May 23, 1842, when he was 34 years old, and shortly before his marriage.

Plays

Espronceda's literary style was clearly defined within the current of Romanticism. In each of his works he exalted his passion for freedom. One of his main influences was the English poet Lord Byron. His work was both lyrical and narrative.

Sancho saldana

It was a novel of historical style, the writer was inspired by the life of Sancho IV of Castile, known as El Bravo. Espronceda's work has fantastic nuances, and he set it in Castilla. It is about the young Saldaña who fell in love with Leonor, but could not be with him. After a new love leads him to misfortune.

Neither the Uncle nor the Nephew

It was a sitcom. Espronceda developed it in three acts; There are seven characters that participate, Don Martín being the protagonist. The dialogues are loaded with naturalness and grace. The play premiered on April 25, 1834, Antonio Ros a close friend of the author collaborated in its development.

Fragment:

Ambrosio: Well, do you think you're old?

Don Martín: I, old man, no; but I'm at the age…

Ambrosio: of more effort, with the precise robustness

to make a wedding

and have nine or ten children

that they give as many grandchildren;

yes, it is forced at a certain age

take state.

Don Martín: indeed;

and in the age of reason, which is where I find myself…

I may get married… ”.

Pirate's Song

Plaque in homage to José de Espronceda. Source: Romerin, from Wikimedia Commons

With this lyrical work the author wanted to highlight the personality and character of the pirates. With this writing he expressed in some way his admiration for his way of life, from the point of view of freedom, and away from the patterns imposed by society. It was published for the first time in 1835, in the magazine El Artista.

Fragment:

"What is my ship my treasure,

that freedom is my god, my law, the force and the wind, my only homeland is the sea.

There they move fierce war

blind kings

for one more inch of land, that I have here for mine

how much the wild sea covers, to whom nobody imposed laws ”.

The Student of Salamanca

It was a narrative poem that Espronceda began to bring to light little by little. It first did it in 1837, until its publication in 1840. It is made up of about 1704 verses. The author structured it in four parts. It was based on the story of Don Juan Tenorio, developed by other writers.

Regarding the structure, the first part presents a prologue, and at the same time introduces the protagonist Don Félix de Montemar, a student from Salamanca who is characterized by being a womanizer, dominator and incredulous. The second part refers to the regrets of Elvira, who fell in love with the man.

In the third the revenge by Elvira's brother towards the gallant takes place. Finally, between the two men a duel to the death begins where Diego, the lady's brother, dies. The story collects various aspects of the literary tradition at that time.

Fragment:

"In Salamanca famous

For his life and good humor, To the daring student

they point you out of a thousand;

jurisdiction gives him his audacity, excuse your wealth, his generous nobility, his manly beauty ”.

Love avenge your grievances

It was one of the most representative stories of love and revenge in Espronceda. It was written in prose, and developed in a single act, divided in turn into two pictures and four scenes. There are more than nineteen characters, the protagonist being Doña Clara de Toledo, the Marchioness of Palma.

Doña Clara decides to take revenge on Mendoza, who is the author of the death of her lover Pedro de Figueroa. It is perhaps one of the works furthest from the author's own style, due to the high presence of drama. Here is a sample of dialogue between Clara and Figueroa:

"Figueroa: Beautiful! Ah yes, more than ever! More beautiful than it is in my fantasy the angel that leads you to this place between the shadows and the vapors of the night. But your weddings are arranged with another "

Clara: You and I know that, my husband. Have you forgotten the oath? Ah, Pedro! Read me again in the fire that now lights my face I have my hand on your heart, and I do not envy a crowned queen ”.

The Devil World

It was considered the last of the longest poems by José de Espronceda. Although he began to write it in 1839, he did not finish it; but he did publish some fragments in some renowned magazines of the time. The author developed themes such as God, life, death; He also fused the dramatic with the narrative.

The protagonist of this work is Adam who has to choose between life and death. After choosing to live forever, a series of drawbacks begin to present themselves, because his new birth is pure and clean, as well as fabulously handsome.

Scholars of Espronceda's work affirm that the writer decided on the title as a way of assuming that evil is embedded in the world, and that it somehow touches people's hearts. There are seven acts in which what the author achieved to write is developed.

Fragment:

"What is man? A mystery. What is life?

A mystery too! The years go by

his quick run, and hidden

old age comes wrapped in its deceptions.

The lost youth is in vain to cry,

It is vain to seek a remedy for our damages.

A dream is the present of a moment.

Death is the future, what it was, a story…! ”.

The Song to Teresa

It is a poem that the author wrote for Teresa, his beloved and mother of his daughter. It is composed of the so-called real eighths or hendecasyllable verses with consonant rhymes. In this work the writer captured beauty and depth. In him there is love and pain.

Fragment:

"It still seems, Teresa, that I see you

aerial like a golden butterfly, delicious dream of desire,

on the gentle early rose stem, of blissful love, Angelica, pure and blissful, and I hear your sweet voice, and I breathe

your scented breath in your sigh… ".

The Pelayo

It was within the unfinished works of Espronceda. For its creation it was inspired by the works of Virgil and Homer. What he was able to write consisted of a little over a thousand verses, divided into fragments, which were not related to each other.

Fragment:

"Open the nascent flower the beautiful bosom, and, receiving the ignited ray,

in the emerald of the pleasant hillock

pour its sweet smell, glory of May.

The calm and serene stream passes, solicitous kissing her sideways;

she in bright colors lights up, and to the sweet kiss the head bows ”.

References

1. José de Espronceda. (2018). Spain: Wikipedia. Recovered from: wikipedia.org
2. Espín, M. (2018). Biography of José de Espronceda. Spain: Miguel de Cervantes Virtual Library. Recovered from: cervantesvirtual.com
3. Tamaro, E. (2018). José de Espronceda. (N / a): Biographies and Lives: The Online Biographical Encyclopedia. Recovered from: biografiasyvidas.com
4. Espronceda: the life of a romantic poet. (2018). (N / a): Banner. Recovered from: estandarte.com
5. José de Espronceda. (S. f.). Spain: Spain is culture. Recovered from: españaescultura.es