Catalan Literary Movements: Naturalism and Modernism

Naturalism in Literature

Naturalism was a return to realism that attempted to explain behavior. It posits that the passions and actions of individuals are determined by heredity and environment. This movement is based on positivist philosophy and the philosophical theories of Schopenhauer. It is often viewed as pessimistic because it suggests that disadvantaged social classes are determined by biological inheritance.

The Works of Narcís Oller

The Butterfly (1892)

This work describes how an artisan must view Barcelona during the years studied. Luis, the protagonist and a student from the provinces, succumbs to the vibrant life of the city.

The Madness (1898)

This novel studies the personality of Daniel Serrallonga, the protagonist. The narrator, a doctor, discusses the process of Daniel, an advocate who, due to his genetic behavior, eventually goes insane.

The Gold Rush (1890-1892)

Oller provides an analysis of social reality, explaining the transformation of Catalan society during the Restoration. New forms of entertainment appear that demonstrate power through luxury. Barcelona requires a new physical space as the city grows and modernizes with the stock market and the Liceu. Oller transforms reality into historical literary material, linking the evolution of the city and the country via the railway.

Escanyapobres and Vilaniu

This section presents the first phase of the new economy through the imaginary town of Pratbell and the city of Vilaniu. While Pratbell begins its industrial expansion, it transforms from a wheat store into a flour mill. A character manufactures and constructs a coal mine. The story follows a fugitive threatened by the economy who takes refuge in a castle and transforms it into a store of gold. His death signifies the triumph of industrial society. In Vilaniu, Oller explains the reality of the September Revolution and the fights between two major families of chiefs.

Modernism and Intellectual Evolution

Modernism was an attempt to modernize and provide a universal, Europeanized improvement of Romanticism. Intellectuals and artists often felt misunderstood by those in power. In this movement, beauty is valued above ethics. Modernists realized that they could not know everything or reach the root cause of all conflicts. They observed that an analytical point of view cannot explain everything, as they believed supreme external forces could be decisive for individuals. The artist shifted interest toward a synthetic vision. The crowd appeared as a sociological phenomenon, becoming part of Modernism with a symbolic character representing the loss of individuality—the "sleepy" mass. This aligns with the theories of Nietzsche, describing the faceless, "asleep" masses.