ASSIGNMENT 3 – José María Blanco White

Extracts from Letters from Spain

The innumerable and fanciful gradations of family rank which the Spaniards have formed to themselves, without the least foundation in the laws of the country, are difficult to describe. Though the Hidalguía is a necessary qualification, especially in country towns, to be admitted into the best society, it is by no means sufficient, by itself, to raise the views of every Hidalgo to a family connexion with the " blue blood"—sangre azul of the country. The shades by which the vital fluid approaches this privileged hue would baffle the skill of the best colourist. These prejudices, however, have lost much of their force at Madrid, except among the grandees, and in such maritime towns as Malaga and Cádiz, where commerce has raised many new, and some foreign families, into consequence. But there is a pervading spirit of vanity in the nation, which actuates even the lowest classes, and may be discovered in the evident mortification which menials and mechanics are apt to feel, on the omission of some modes of address intended, as it were, to cast a veil on the humbleness of their condition. To call a man by the name of blacksmith, butcher, coachman, would be considered an insult.

Seville 1802

The yellowfever, which had some months before appeared at Cádiz, began to shew itself in our large. suburb of Triana, on the other side of the Guadalquivir. As no measures were taken to prevent communication with Cádiz, it is supposed that the infection was brought by some of the numerous seafaring people that inhabit the vicinity of the river. The progress of the malady was slow at first, and confined to one side of the street where it began. Meetings of all the physicians were convened by the chief magistrates, who, though extremely arbitrary in matters of daily occurrence, are, in Spain, very timid and dilatory on any extraordinary emergency. Unconscious of the impending danger, the people flocked to these meetings to amuse themselves at the expense of our doctors, who are notoriously quarrelsome and abusive when pitted against each other. A few of the more enlightened among them ventured to declare their conviction that the fever was infectious; but their voice was drowned in the clamour of a large majority who wished to indulge the stupid confidence of the inhabitants. […] It was already high time to take alarm, and symptoms of it were shown by the chief authorities. Their measures, however, cannot fail to strike you as perfectly original. No separation of the infected from the healthy part of the town: no arrangement for confining and relieving the sick poor. […] Anxious, therefore, to avoid every questionable step in circumstances of such magnitude, the civil authorities wisely resolved to make an application to the archbishop and chapter for the solemn prayers called Rogativas, which are used in times of public affliction. This request was granted without delay, and the Rogativa performed at the cathedral for nine consecutive days, after sunset.

1. Which aspects of life in Spain are criticized in these Letters?
2. Can Blanco White be considered as a Enlightened writer ? Why?
3. Do you notice any changes between 1800 and today's life in Spain?
   
   
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