Realism and Naturalism second half of 19 th Century

By 1840 Romanticism is worn out By 1840 Romanticism is worn out Variety of factors: political, economic, social, scientific, incidental (death of main Romantics) Variety of factors: political, economic, social, scientific, incidental (death of main Romantics) Rejection of the metaphysical / transcendental in favor of the epistemological Rejection of the metaphysical / transcendental in favor of the epistemological A new set of ethical, political, social challenges A new set of ethical, political, social challenges

Romanticism

Realism Gustave Caillebotte, “A Rainy Day” (1877)

Realism Reflection, mirror, reproduction Reflection, mirror, reproduction Emphasis on daily life Emphasis on daily life Objectivity Objectivity Representation of what is visible, observable Representation of what is visible, observable Urban Urban Middle classes Middle classes Well defined space and time (contemporary) Well defined space and time (contemporary)

Influences

Auguste Comte ( ) Positivism Positivism Rejection of metaphysics Rejection of metaphysics Faith in observable and verifiable facts, natural laws Faith in observable and verifiable facts, natural laws Belief in positive and material progress through science Belief in positive and material progress through science

Charles Darwin ( ) Evolution Evolution Survival of the fittest Survival of the fittest Herbert Spencer: applied darwinism to social and political sphere Herbert Spencer: applied darwinism to social and political sphere 1859

Hippolyte Taine literary work informed by author’s: literary work informed by author’s: –race –environment –historical moment

Karl Marx ( )

Gustave Courbet Aim: “to represent the customs, the ideas, the appearance of the times without prejudice or value judgment” Aim: “to represent the customs, the ideas, the appearance of the times without prejudice or value judgment” Represents humble, common figures Represents humble, common figures Stone breakers (1840)

Naturalism: Emile Zola ( ) principal theorist and practitioner of naturalism principal theorist and practitioner of naturalism art critic: supporter of impressionists art critic: supporter of impressionists Rougon-Macquart series (20 volumes), including L’Assommoir Rougon-Macquart series (20 volumes), including L’Assommoir L’Assommoir “J’Accuse” (1898), considered by some the most important newspaper article ever written “J’Accuse” (1898), considered by some the most important newspaper article ever writtenJ’Accuse newspaper article ever writtenJ’Accuse newspaper article ever written –caricature that appeared in Punch Punch Zola at the Bibliothèque Nationale de FrancZola at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France

Naturalism Not a break with realism, but an extension of it. Takes from realism: Not a break with realism, but an extension of it. Takes from realism:  the representation of daily life, average characters (slice of life technique)  set in contemporary period  plots that progress by means of causality  the rejection of the fantastic and extraordinary  the attempt to reproduce real language  Basis on research

Caillebotte, Floor Scrapers

Naturalism The Experimental Novel (1879),“: Application of the “scientific method” to literature: novel as a laboratory The Experimental Novel (1879),“: Application of the “scientific method” to literature: novel as a laboratory Importance of hereditary and environmental determinism Importance of hereditary and environmental determinism Man seen as another animal (la bête humain) Man seen as another animal (la bête humain) A Godless universe A Godless universe History, social and economic conditions shape protagonists History, social and economic conditions shape protagonists Collective protagonists Collective protagonists Includes all aspects of human experience (does not focus on the “beautiful”): sex, brutality, violence, crude language Includes all aspects of human experience (does not focus on the “beautiful”): sex, brutality, violence, crude language Image of reality emphasizes the social injustices and defects: many readers saw in it a means of rebellion against the dominant classes Image of reality emphasizes the social injustices and defects: many readers saw in it a means of rebellion against the dominant classes T. Lautrec, Medical Inspection

Germinal (1885) Part of the Rougon-Macquart series (20 volumes): Part of the Rougon-Macquart series (20 volumes): –History of two related families: two related familiestwo related families  Rougons: upper middle-class  Macquarts: proletarian –Chronicles private and public lives during Second Empire –Deals with alcoholism, industrial confrontation, prostitution, etc. Title taken from the French Revolutionary Calendar: first month of spring Title taken from the French Revolutionary Calendar: first month of springFrench Revolutionary CalendarFrench Revolutionary Calendar

Beginning Beginning –landscape? The mine (Le Voreux): forum The mine (Le Voreux): forum Village 240 Village 240 Étienne Lantier Étienne Lantier Initial presentation/characterization (description, values, characteristics, narrator´s language/tone) of: Initial presentation/characterization (description, values, characteristics, narrator´s language/tone) of: 1.Bonnemort 2.Catherine 3.Zacharie 4.Jeanlin 5.Maheu 6.Maheude

Six families Proletarian Proletarian 1.Maheus 2.Levaques 3.Pierrons Bourgeois Bourgeois 4.Grégoires 5.Deneulins 6.Hennebeaus In groups describe your family; include: their story, what family members there are, the relationship among them and their position with respect to the strike. Find a significant quote.

The Maheus La Maheude, change? La Maheude, change? Jeanlin vs. Zacharie Jeanlin vs. Zacharie Forum: Poland’s torture Forum: Poland’s torture

Étienne Forum: Hero? Forum: Hero? Utopian dreams Utopian dreams His ideology vs.: His ideology vs.: –Rassneur –Souvarine –Pluchart Religious imagery Religious imagery

Religious imagery for the bourgeois? Religious imagery for the bourgeois? Forum: Le Tartaret & La côte verte Forum: Le Tartaret & La côte verte Imagery of rebellion/germination Imagery of rebellion/germination Forum: The mob Forum: The mob –Attack on Jean Bart –Why not Le Voreux? –Reaction of bourgeois –Bonnemort –Women and Maigrat Why does Zola include Hennebeau’s discovery of his wife´s adultery with Paul? Why does Zola include Hennebeau’s discovery of his wife´s adultery with Paul?

The troops: The troops: –Men of the people –Shooting of miners –Reaction of the bourgeois –Jeanlin and the murder of Jules –Étienne’s attitude toward killing Is Étienne to blame for the failure of the strike? Is Étienne to blame for the failure of the strike?

Souvarine’s act: language that is used Souvarine’s act: language that is used The cave in: Catherine, Étienne, Chaval The cave in: Catherine, Étienne, Chaval Above: the miners, death of Zacharie Above: the miners, death of Zacharie The reaction of the bourgeois The reaction of the bourgeois Cécile and Bonnemort: the «crime of an idiot»? Cécile and Bonnemort: the «crime of an idiot»? In 6 groups: In 6 groups: –Look for imagery relating to the mine and the earth in your chapter –Symbolism? Ending: Can we consider Étienne a hero? Ending: Can we consider Étienne a hero?

Forum Critics are not in agreement as to the message that Germinal conveys. René Ternois, for example, states: “The end of the novel does not allow for any hope. Rebellions of the downtrodden are fatal, and only serve to aggravate their suffering […] After the final catastrophe that Zola prophesies, he sees nothing.” On the other hand, Elliott Grant considers the novel a “work of indignation, compassion and, in the final analysis, hope.” Which critic do you agree with? Use quotes from the text to support your interpretation. Critics are not in agreement as to the message that Germinal conveys. René Ternois, for example, states: “The end of the novel does not allow for any hope. Rebellions of the downtrodden are fatal, and only serve to aggravate their suffering […] After the final catastrophe that Zola prophesies, he sees nothing.” On the other hand, Elliott Grant considers the novel a “work of indignation, compassion and, in the final analysis, hope.” Which critic do you agree with? Use quotes from the text to support your interpretation.

No hope Other arguments? Other arguments? –Battle’s rebellion –Jeanlin as the “only successful character” –La Maheude’s job –Henri & Lenore’s future –Soldiers’ response to strike –Cécile & Catherine’s death –Bourgeois victory

Hope Other arguments? Other arguments? –Changes in Étienne –Mythic dimension Mythic dimensionMythic dimension –Embrace between Négrel and Étienne –La Maheude’s change –Earth as being impregnated through human sacrifice –Final chapter: germination