Realism and Naturalism

second half of 19th Century

By 1840 Romanticism is worn out Variety of factors: political, economic,

social, scientific, incidental (death of main Romantics)

Rejection of the metaphysical / transcendental in favor of the epistemological

A new set of ethical, political, social challenges

Romanticism

Realism

Gustave Caillebotte, “A Rainy Day” (1877)

Realism

Reflection, mirror, reproduction Emphasis on daily life Objectivity Representation of what is visible,

observable Urban Middle classes Well defined space and time

(contemporary)

Influences

Auguste Comte (1798-1857)

Positivism Rejection of

metaphysics Faith in observable

and verifiable facts, natural laws

Belief in positive and material progress through science

Charles Darwin (1809-1882)

Evolution Survival of the

fittest Herbert Spencer:

applied darwinism to social and political sphere

1859

Hippolyte Taine

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

Karl Marx (1818-1883)

Gustave Courbet

Aim: “to represent the customs, the ideas, the appearance of the times without prejudice or value judgment”

Represents humble, common figures

Stone breakers (1840)

Naturalism: Emile Zola (1840-1902)

principal theorist and practitioner of naturalism

art critic: supporter of impressionists

Rougon-Macquart series (20 volumes), including L’Assommoir

“J’Accuse” (1898), considered by some the most important newspaper article ever written– caricature that

appeared in PunchZola at the Biblioth

èque Nationale de France

Naturalism

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

Importance of hereditary and environmental determinism

Man seen as another animal (la bête humain)

A Godless universe History, social and economic

conditions shape protagonists Collective protagonists 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

T. Lautrec, Medical Inspection

Germinal (1885)

Part of the Rougon-Macquart series (20 volumes):– History of two 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

Beginning– landscape?

The mine (Le Voreux): forum Village 240 Étienne Lantier Initial presentation/characterization

(description, values, characteristics, narrator´s language/tone) of:

1. Bonnemort2. Catherine3. Zacharie4. Jeanlin5. Maheu6. Maheude

Six families

Proletarian1. Maheus2. Levaques3. Pierrons

Bourgeois4. Grégoires5. Deneulins6. 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? Jeanlin vs. Zacharie Forum: Poland’s torture

Étienne

Forum: Hero? Utopian dreams His ideology vs.:

– Rassneur– Souvarine– Pluchart

Religious imagery

Religious imagery for the bourgeois? Forum: Le Tartaret & La côte verte Imagery of rebellion/germination 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?

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?

Souvarine’s act: language that is used The cave in: Catherine, Étienne, Chaval Above: the miners, death of Zacharie The reaction of the bourgeois Cécile and Bonnemort: the «crime of an

idiot»? In 6 groups:

– Look for imagery relating to the mine and the earth in your chapter

– Symbolism? 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.

No hope

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?– Changes in Étienne– Mythic dimension– Embrace between Négrel and Étienne– La Maheude’s change– Earth as being impregnated through

human sacrifice– Final chapter: germination