Larra's View of the Social Classes as Perceived in his "Articulos"

LARRAS VIEW OF THE SOCIAL CLASSES AS PERCEIVED IN HIS "ARTÍCULOS" by Leonard T. Perry* Any study of the social classes as perceived by Mariano José de Larra must take into consideration the ideological position that reflected his evaluation of them. As all those interested in Larra know, the doctrine of the age of enlightenment was the single most important force that shaped his world view. This period offered an approach to life that was characterized by the pursuit ofknowledge that reflected the importance of observation and reason in the sciences along with a strong didactic tendency in literature, which was set in the cast of the amelioration of society. The seeds of this rational and progressive attitude were sown in his years of study spent in France and Spain. This important facet began on May 23, 1813 when Dr. Mariano de Larra and his family had to leave Spain for France because of his affiliation as a surgeon in José Bonaparte's army, which had been defeated by the insurgent Spanish forces. It was not until 1818 that Larra would return to Spain, thanks to the decree of amnesty granted by Fernando VII. During those years spent in France, Figaro's father provided his son with the constant support and presence of an enlightened, well-informed parent. A chief concern of the age of enlightenment was to spread knowledge in order to benefit mankind and to employ science as an indispensable means toward progress. One illustration of this is revealed in Dr. Larra's two year stay in Paris where, according to A. Rumeau, "Pendant deux ans, il poursuit ses études et fréquente les principaux hôpitaux. "' Another example is demonstrated through his successful efforts in stamping out a cholera epidemic in Navalcarnero. A further consideration is revealed in one of the reasons cited by Dr. Larra for his translation of Traite des poisons ou Toxicologie générale by Mateo Orfila. In the introduction, Dr. Larra states, "... haría un grande obsequio a mi patria, imitando a las demás naciones civilizadas, si facilitaba, traduciéndoselo a mis paisanos, los medios de que se pusieran al nivel de los conocimientos del día en toda •LEONARD T. PERRY was born and reared in Cleveland, Ohio. He was graduated from La Escuela Central de Idiomas de Madrid; he later received a BA from John Carroll University, an MA from the University of Tennessee, and a Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Spanish and Italian at CIemson University, CIemson, South Carolina. 1. A. Rumeau, "Le Premier Séjour de Mariano José de Larra en France (18131818 )," in Chevalier offerts à Marcel Bataillon par les hispanistesfrançais (Bordeaux: Feret, 1962), p. 601. ROCKY MOUNTAIN REVIEW255 Leonard T. Perry Europa sabia."2 The above examples serve to underline the importance of young Mariano's father, who contributed substantially in inculcating in his son the principles of the enlightenment. Professor A. Rumeau has contributed mightily in shedding light on Figaro's first stay in France. According to this noted French hispanist, childhood memories of one to four years of age are only meaningful when they are prolonged in the same culture. Since Larra left his native land at four years of age, the experiences that followed were French and memorable, because they were spent in France and took place when he was old enough for them to be more lasting.3 Evaristo Correa Calderón also notes that the time spent in France constituted "... los años más dúctiles y aptos para el aprendizaje minucioso de un idioma, así como la formación literaria y la educación integral . . . "4 This French language experience was not superimposed on any other culture but rather his first meaningful linguistic encounter. It was much more than what we understand to be mere language, but "... aussi est le vase où se sont déposées mille essences; elle est matière, forme et rythme, chair et âme."5 . In trying to reason to the kind of mille essences that were included in the concept of Figaro's relationship with his "adopted" language, one could assume that...