It's been a bit of bad luck what happened. On the Spanish side, the party at the Government did not have enough votes to freely apply their own policies. By helping provoke a polarizing crisis, they hugely improve their chances for an absolute majority to improve their power position should there be an election in Spain. Had they negotiated with Catalan Government, their future chances for a huge win would be a lot lower.
On the Catalan side, there was not enough votes to morally claim for independence. By provoking a polarizing crisis, they hope to greatly improve their future chances for an absolute majority that helps legitimate their position.
In short, both parties ruling on both sides believe that they benefit greatly from confrontation so trying to reach agreements is pretty much out of the question, marketing is all that matters.
On the Catalan side, there was not enough votes to morally claim for independence. By provoking a polarizing crisis, they hope to greatly improve their future chances for an absolute majority that helps legitimate their position.
In short, both parties ruling on both sides believe that they benefit greatly from confrontation so trying to reach agreements is pretty much out of the question, marketing is all that matters.