Rubén Darío: A Biography of the Father of Modernism

Posted on Oct 2, 2024 in Music

Rubén Darío: A Biography

Early Life and Education

Félix Rubén García Sarmiento, known as Rubén Darío, was born on January 18, 1867, in Metapa, Nicaragua. He spent his childhood with his family and received his early education from the Jesuits. Darío began writing poetry at a young age, publishing his first poems at the age of twelve, which were acquired by an official of the National Library of Nicaragua.

Literary Beginnings and Marriage

Darío began publishing his writings in 1885. His poem Azul, published in 1888, brought him fame in Spain and throughout the Americas. He worked as a reporter for the Daily Nation in Nicaragua and married Rafaela Contreras in 1890.

Travels and Later Years

In 1892, Darío traveled to Spain as a delegate for Nicaragua to the festivities commemorating the Fourth Centenary of the Discovery of America. In 1914, while passing through New York, he suffered from a severe case of pneumonia. Deeply saddened by this experience, he returned to Nicaragua. Darío died in León on February 6, 1916.

Major Works

  • Azul (1888): A collection of poems and short stories that marked the beginning of Modernism.
  • Prosas Profanas (1896): A collection of poems filled with fantasy, mystery, and mythological figures, showcasing Darío’s brilliant and vibrant style.
  • Cantos de Vida y Esperanza (1905): Verses with metaphysical and confessional tones, often expressing an ironic and disenchanted perspective on the poet’s place in the world.

Modernism: A Literary Movement

Modernism, a literary movement spanning from 1880 to 1910, primarily influenced poetry. It was characterized by creative rebellion, aristocratic refinement, cosmopolitan culturalism, and a profound renewal of language and metrics.

Stages of Modernism

  • Cosmopolitanism: The poet, like Darío in Azul, evades worldly problems, seeking refuge in an “ivory tower” dedicated solely to artistic creation.
  • Mundonovismo: The poet engages with the world, addressing social and political issues, as seen in Cantos de Vida y Esperanza. This stage includes:
    • Pantheism: A love for nature and landscape, treating them with reverence.
    • Sensism: Constant stimulation of the senses through sensory images.
    • Eroticism: Exploration of love, often in the ancient Greek sense of “Agape Love.”

Characteristics of Modernism

Content

  1. Triumph of Imagination
  2. Rejection of national and religious themes in favor of art for art’s sake (though Darío returned to these themes later).
  3. Cosmopolitanism and detachment from worldly issues.
  4. Exoticism, drawing inspiration from countries like China, Japan, and India.
  5. Hellenism, incorporating Greek myths and figures.

Form and Language

  1. Musicality and innovative use of meter and rhythm.
  2. Rich vocabulary and use of cultisms.
  3. Emphasis on sensory images and synesthesia.
  4. Obsession with colors and their symbolic meanings.
  5. Repetition of nouns for emphasis and sound.

Recurring Motifs

  • Swans
  • Peacocks
  • Rare flowers (e.g., fleur-de-lis, lotus, anemones)
  • Precious stones (e.g., rubies, emeralds)