Catalan Literary Movements: Naturalism, Modernism, and Narcís Oller

Naturalism: Heredity and Environment

Naturalism marked a return to realism, specifically attempting to explain human behavior. It posits that the fervor and passion of individuals are determined by heredity and environment. This movement is based on Positivist philosophy and the philosophical theories of Schopenhauer.

Naturalism is often considered negative because it suggests that the fate of disadvantaged social classes is predetermined by biological inheritance.

The Works of Narcís Oller

Narcís Oller was a key figure in Catalan Naturalism, documenting the social transformations of his era. His major works include:

1. La Papallona (The Butterfly) (1882)

This novel describes the life of an artisan in Barcelona. Luis, the protagonist, a student from the provinces, succumbs to the city's frivolous and dissipated life.

2. La Bogeria (Madness) (1898)

This work studies the personality of the protagonist, Daniel Serrallonga. The narrator, who is both a doctor and a lawyer, discusses Daniel's process of descent into madness, attributing it to his genetic predisposition.

3. La Febre d'Or (The Gold Rush) (1890–1892)

Oller observes and explains the transformation of Catalan society during the Restoration period. Key themes include:

• The emergence of new forms of entertainment.
• The paramount importance of money.
• The physical expansion of Barcelona (e.g., the construction of the Stock Exchange, the Liceu, and the Hippodrome).

The novel shows the evolution of both the countryside and the city, linked by the symbol of new civilization: the railway.

4. Social Conflict in L'Escanyapobres and Vilaniu

Oller documented the stagnation of the agrarian economy and the rise of new social powers through his fictional towns:

• L'Escanyapobres (The Miser) (1884): Focuses on the imaginary town of Pratbell. Oller contrasts two economic visions: the industrial transformation (converting old warehouses into colossal facilities, investing in coal mines) versus the regression of Oleguer Tuies (the miser), who hoards gold in his castle, threatened by the new economy.
• Vilaniu (1885): Describes the decline of rural villages and the assertion of bourgeois political and social power. The September Revolution of 1868 precipitates the downfall of the two major cacique families in Vilaniu, leading to political conflict.

Modernism: Aesthetics and Synthetic Vision

Modernism was an attempt to modernize and achieve universality (Europeanization), seen as an evolution of Romanticism. Intellectuals and artists often felt misunderstood by those in power, emphasizing beauty and aesthetics above all else.

Modernists realized that analytical observation of reality was insufficient. They believed in supreme, external forces influencing individuals that defied rational explanation. Artists, therefore, sought a synthetic vision.

The concept of the crowd appears as a sociological phenomenon, often depicted symbolically in Modernism, leading to a loss of individuality—the "sleepy," faceless masses. This concept aligns with the theories of Nietzsche.