The Existential Pessimism of Baroja's The Tree of Knowledge

Pío Baroja's The Tree of Knowledge (1911)

The Tree of Knowledge (published in 1911), a dialogical, philosophical, and autobiographical novel, reflects the deep concerns of Pío Baroja. These concerns are projected onto Andrés Hurtado, a character lost in an absurd world who accumulates disappointments in his family, among his friends, and in the circles he frequents, until the novel's tragic end.

The Reflection of Spanish Reality and Social Critique

The author attempts to reflect the Spanish reality of the time, starting with the cultural poverty (reflected during his student life and in the social gatherings he frequents). The novel also carries a significant social critique, showing various social ills and miseries, particularly the rural/urban opposition, where neither environment emerges well. Hurtado blames those below as well as those above for failing to react or rebel, feeling impotent rage due to that inaction.

Existential Pessimism and the Meaning of Life

Above all, the novel is defined by its existential sense and deep pessimism. Hurtado abandons religious practices, and science does not answer his big questions about the meaning of life and the world. Rather, intelligence and science serve only to exacerbate the pain of living. In short, human life is meaningless, without explanation, and is viewed as an "anomaly of nature."

Baroja's Personality Reflected in Hurtado

Baroja was a man of lonely and bitter spirit, characterized by exaggerated sensitivity, shyness, and independence. He was a misogynist; he rejected marriage but did not accept prostitution. He showed great tenderness for the helpless and lashed out against human cruelty—all expressed with absolute sincerity, without pretense. These features are embodied in the character of Andrés Hurtado.

The Context: The Generation of '98 and National Crisis

For both the author and his literary double, the world is meaningless, life is absurd, and humanity deserves no confidence. This summary of existential pessimism was not isolated or accidental: the entire Generation of '98 adopted it to a greater or lesser extent, reflecting the major crisis Spain was living through as a result of the loss of the last colonial empire (Cuba and the Philippines).

The Subject of Spain and National Decline

The "Subject of Spain," which united this literary group, had its direct antecedent in the work of Joaquín Costa (late 19th century), who reported Spanish delay, the lack of a good education system, and poverty. Baroja, Unamuno, Azorín, and others questioned the causes of the decline and sought national regeneration. In that sense, Castile becomes the representation of the essential values of the Spanish soul.

In fact, the issue of Spain has been a constant in the country's literature, already present in:

• Cervantes
• Quevedo
• Larra

During the twentieth century, it became a common place for different reasons, including the Civil War, exile, the dictatorship, and the Transition.

Pillars of the Novel

Existential concern is the other major theme for the authors of '98. Writers are beings invaded by an anguish that leads them to consider religious issues. These two reasons—the Subject of Spain and Existential Concern—are the two pillars upon which rests The Tree of Knowledge, one of the most representative works of the author and the Generation of '98.

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