Naturalism and Realism in 19th-Century Literature

Naturalism in 19th-Century Literature

Naturalism was a movement that occurred in late nineteenth-century literature and, to a lesser extent, in the other arts. Its creator was Émile Zola in France, and it later spread throughout the West. It aims to capture objective reality, often considered an evolution of Realism. It includes aspects of the environment that had not previously appeared in art: disadvantaged social classes, social problems, disease, and sexual themes. Social criticism prevails with a fairly pessimistic bias; the main protagonists often belong to the proletariat.

Naturalism introduced a scientific approach: the author observes the surrounding environment to capture every detail and to formulate explanatory hypotheses from a detached perspective. Thus, characters move within a world marked by genetic determinism and the influence of their educational and social environment. As a scientistic movement, it is often materialistic and atheistic.

Attention is given to medicine, to philosophy, and to political reform. Real people and contemporary events frequently appear in the works. Important Naturalist authors include Émile Zola, Clarín (Leopoldo Alas), Guy de Maupassant, Henri Barbusse, and the later works of Narcís Oller.

Realism in 19th-Century Art and Literature

Realism is an artistic movement that aims to represent reality as accurately as possible in works of art. While earlier works often sought to idealize the model or employ symbolic and schematic devices, Realism dispenses with such artifice and focuses on detailed depiction. As an autonomous movement, it emerged in the nineteenth century in sculpture, painting, and literature.

Features of Realism

• Objectivity: Characterized by the pursuit of objectivity and rejection of fantasy and dreams.
• Accurate representation: Aims to represent reality as faithfully as possible without embellishment; landscapes are often shown as a humanized nature.
• Contemporary themes: Themes are contemporary to the time and frequently include social criticism.
• Detailed description: Uses detailed description to present accurate profiles of subjects, characters, situations, and settings. Everyday life, rather than the exotic, is central, explaining political, social, and human conditions.