Naturalism in Literature: Origins, Impact, and Spanish Adaptation
Naturalism: An Introduction
Naturalism is a literary trend stemming from Realism, pioneered by Émile Zola. Zola aimed to align literature with the hypothetical-deductive method of experimental positivist science prevalent at the time.
According to Zola, Naturalism asserts that literature should approach reality using methods similar to experimental science. This involves observation, experimentation, and an objective presentation of facts, incorporating data from scientific studies of nature, biology, physiology, psychology, and sociology.
Naturalism, like Realism, primarily focused on the novel as the most suitable genre for literary exploration and the one with the widest readership. The novel can not only depict the external world but also delve into the depths of characters, revealing aspects they themselves may not perceive, as noted by Clarín.
The Naturalistic novel, as advocated by Zola in his theoretical works, presents an “ideal” model that is practically unattainable, particularly concerning the impersonality of the narrator. The narrator strives to conceal their subjectivity, suppressing personal feelings about the narrative and impartially presenting the facts without judgment.
Naturalism in Spain
From 1880 onwards, following adaptation to the sociopolitical climate of the Restoration and aesthetic and ideological reflections on Naturalism, Spanish Realism adopted a calmer, more objective, and profound approach in novels such as La Regenta by Clarín, and Fortunata y Jacinta by Galdós. Other novels, such as La desheredada, also by Galdós, and the works of Emilia Pardo Bazán, embraced the new Naturalistic principles.
The sociocultural and historical context of Spain prevented positivist thinking from achieving the same level of dominance as in France. Consequently, Spanish Naturalism could not fully acclimatize. It is important to note that the laws of biological determinism, particularly Prosper Lucas’s theory of heredity, which were crucial to Zola, did not receive universal acceptance among Spanish Naturalist writers.
Overall, Spanish Naturalism aligns with the core ideas of the movement, such as the emphasis on truth in representing the environment and passions, the logic of connections between facts, and the logical sequence of situations. However, the fatalistic determinism and perceived immorality of the Naturalist school prompted writers in Catholic Spain to seek strategies to mitigate these aspects.
However, from 1884, a group of Spanish writers opted for a more radical form of Naturalism. This radical Naturalism is characterized by its anti-clericalism, criticism of the prevailing socio-moral order, and interest in the physiological behavior of characters.
This radical Naturalism seeks to identify, analyze, and eradicate the causes of social ills. It reflects a zeitgeist and a progressive mindset that champions the redemptive power of work and the need for a change in the status of women.
Blasco Ibáñez, from Valencia, stands as the foremost representative of the Zolaesque school. His novels offer a documentary-style representation of reality, serving as historical documents, and his characters are driven by a powerful and fatalistic nature that exposes their primal, human traits.