The Baroque, the grotesque, and social criticism in the Buscon and La Hora de Todos of Quevedo: El Barroco, lo grotesco, y la critica social en el Buscon y La Hora de Todos de Quevedo

Abstract

This study focuses on the particularities that characterize the literature of the seventeenth century in Spain that are included in the Buscon and in La Hora de Todos, which consecrated Quevedo as the most representative writer of his time, since the characteristics found in his work reflect better than any other author of his epoch the way of life and thoughts of his controverted time. In light of this, I win analyze his twisted and tense style characterized by the mannerisms of his epoch, the presence of the "upside-down world", and the social and political satire of his time. The introductory chapter outlines the purpose of this thesis which, as mentioned, is to analyze the particularities that characterize the literature of the seventeenth century in Spain included in two of Quevedo's most important satirical masterpieces. The second chapter discusses the Baroque as a literary movement in Spain, its characteristics and its two different ways of expression known as gongorism and conceptism. This chapter also analyzes, the elements from the Baroque style, included in said two works and our author's particular twisted style. The third chapter analyzes the grotesque elements found in both works. This chapter also discusses the origin of the grotesque, and at the same time, it presents different definitions of grotesque from a literary point of view. The fourth chapter focuses on the social criticism such as it is found in Quevedo's works, and it is analyzed according to the social patterns prevailing during the seventeenth century in Spain. The final chapter presents the conclusions for this project.