Realism and Modernism in 19th Century Literature
Realism
Historical Context
Ideological Aspect:
Positivism, promoted by Auguste Comte, arises. Medical experimentation begins and theories of genetics develop with Mendel and Darwin. Marxism emerges, leading to class struggle between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. Spiritualism, driven by Schopenhauer, also appears.
Political Aspect:
Liberalism evolves into conservatism and progressivism. The bourgeoisie gains power, while the proletariat faces oppression. Progressive artists believe in the power of change through realism.
Concept of Realism
Realism aims to represent the social, political, and economic realities of the time. Writers like Stendhal and Flaubert depict reality objectively, focusing on detailed descriptions and avoiding fantasy.
Narrative Genre
The novel gains popularity due to increased readership and the rise of the press. Realistic novels often reflect societal concerns and draw inspiration from Cervantes’s works.
Realistic Narrative Character
Thematic Characteristics:
- Protagonists are often bourgeois, dealing with issues like family, love, and marriage.
- Themes of adultery, incest, and social class conflicts are explored.
- Dual perspectives on reality are presented, with some characters advocating for change and others for tradition.
- Religious and political dualisms are depicted, including clericalism vs. anti-clericalism and caciquismo.
- Urban and rural life are contrasted.
Formal Features:
- Documentation and objective descriptions are emphasized.
- Detailed character portraits, including physical and psychological descriptions, are used.
- Chronological and topographical descriptions provide context.
- Different types of narrators, including omniscient and impartial, are employed.
- Characters are often ideologized and undergo personal conflicts.
- Narrative techniques like dialogue and detailed descriptions are prominent.
Naturalism
Naturalism evolves from realism, focusing on the influence of heredity and environment on characters. Emile Zola’s experimental methods explore determinism. In Spain, naturalism is influenced by European trends and incorporates regional elements.
Benito Perez Galdos (1843-1920)
Galdos’s novels critique bourgeois society and explore various themes, including social conflicts, the power of money, and individual struggles. His works evolve through different stages, reflecting changing social and political landscapes.
Leopoldo Alas Clarin (1852-1901)
Clarin’s works, such as La Regenta, showcase innovative features of realism. He provides detailed descriptions of society and explores the complexities of human relationships.
Modernism
Historical Context
Modernism emerges as a reaction against realism and reflects the crisis of the late nineteenth century. It originates in Latin America and spreads to Spain through the influence of Ruben Dario.
Influences
- Optimistic Isms: Impressionism and Parnassianism focus on aesthetics, sensory experiences, and formal harmony.
- Pessimistic Isms: Symbolism, Decadence, and Pre-Raphaelite movements explore inner emotions, melancholy, and the search for the ideal.
- American Literature: Poe’s mystery and Whitman’s expansive rhythms influence modernist writers.
- Spanish Literature: Medieval and classical traditions are revived, and Bécquer’s influence is prominent.
Modernist Themes
- Sensory Exploration and Intimacy: Modernists delve into both external beauty and internal emotions.
- Romantic Unrest: Rejection of bourgeois society and the search for artificial paradises.
- Escapism: Retreat into the past or exotic worlds.
- Cosmopolitanism: Exploration of different cultures and environments.
- Love: Idealized and erotic aspects of love are depicted.
- Melancholy: A sense of disillusionment and the tragic nature of life.
- American Themes: Interest in pre-Columbian cultures and myths.
- Hispanic Themes: Revival of Spanish literary traditions.
- Search for the Ideal and Poetic Harmony: Exploration of the creative process and the nature of poetry.
Modernist Aesthetics
- Language: Emphasis on imagery, symbolism, and musicality.
- Metric: Recovery of traditional stanzas and experimentation with new forms.
Spanish American Modernism
Ruben Dario’s works mark a shift towards modernism, exploring themes of fantasy, intimacy, and social concerns.
Spanish Modernism
Spanish modernism is characterized by a more intimate and melancholic tone, influenced by Bécquer. Juan Ramón Jiménez and Antonio Machado explore inner emotions, while Valle-Inclán’s works depict decadence and social critique.
Textual Commentary
This section provides guidelines for analyzing a text, including summarizing its content, identifying key themes and structures, and examining its linguistic features. It also discusses argumentation techniques and common errors in reasoning.
Poetry
This section analyzes a poem by Bécquer as an example of Romantic poetry, highlighting its themes, structure, and use of language.