Catalan Literature: Realism, Naturalism, and Modernism
Catalan Literature: From Realism to Modernism
Realism and Naturalism
Gustave Flaubert and the Realist Novel
Gustave Flaubert, the French author of Madame Bovary, explored the extreme possibilities of the realist novel, building on Stendhal’s idea that the novel was like a mirror reflecting contemporary society. This type of novel portrays the world as it is, with characters shaped by their environment, historical context, and social situation, particularly focusing on the bourgeoisie and middle class. Flaubert championed narrative objectivity, striving to maintain a detached narrator and avoid asserting his presence in the narrative. He demonstrated a masterful command of language and its resources.
Emile Zola and Naturalism
The naturalist novel, championed by Emile Zola, adhered to the scientific method and deterministic theories of positivism. It emphasized working-class characters and the effects of poverty on their lives.
The Free Indirect Style
The free indirect style is a narrative technique where a character’s voice appears within the narrator’s speech, indirectly conveying the character’s thoughts and feelings.
Catalan Authors and Literary Movements
Joan Maragall (1860-1911)
Joan Maragall was a poet with a unique perspective who wrote about everyday things. Moving to Catalonia without knowing the language, he began writing in Catalan and embraced the region’s history. Some of his poems have a patriotic Catalan intention. He wrote extensively about marginalized characters, demonstrating an argumentative and narrative style with a strong command of meter. Maragall excelled at expressing intimate feelings and held idealistic, humanistic, Catalan nationalist, and religious views. His poetry often features grand historical and fantastical atmospheres, incorporating elements of theatricality through monologues and dialogues. He transferred his mastery of language to the theater with works like Galla Placidia, his first tragedy, drawing inspiration from Shakespeare and Victor Hugo. His most important work is Sea and Sky (1885), known for its construction and enduring quality. His tragedies showcase his artistic ambition and his commitment to verse drama.
Carles Riba (1893-1959)
Carles Riba’s poetry was influenced by symbolism and reflection. His career as a poet and intellectual is exemplary, navigating the challenges of the Spanish Civil War. His translation work (including the Odyssey and works by Edgar Allan Poe) significantly impacted his poetry. During the oppressive years of the war and after returning from exile, he assumed a role as a mentor and advisor. His time in exile in France saw the flourishing of his poetry, notably with Elegies de Bierville, a complex and significant work. Riba’s poetry is characterized by the need to find refuge in memory and meditate on death, reflecting the aftermath of the Civil War. His poems often express a longing for freedom, coexistence, and peace for the peoples of Spain. His socially and politically engaged poetry had a broad collective impact, establishing him as a prominent Catalan national poet.
Joan Oliver (1904-1986)
Some of Joan Oliver’s poems belong to the era of social or historical realism that developed in the 1960s. His poetry maintains an individualistic and incorruptible character, reflecting his metaphysical concerns and personal history.
Josep Pla (1897-1981)
Josep Pla, a prolific writer and journalist, embarked on one of the most ambitious projects in contemporary Catalan prose. Working with autobiographical forms, he viewed literature as an “effort against oblivion.” He preferred to be seen as an autobiographer or memoirist rather than a novelist, embracing a literary vision focused on observation and description of reality. His writing exemplifies a distinct form of literary prose. Two of his notable works set in Girona are Girona, un llibre de records (1953), which deals with his childhood and adolescence memories, and El quadern gris (1966), a diary-like chronicle of the author’s life in 1918 and 1919. Pla’s work often falls within the “I” narrative, prioritizing personal experience over fictional storytelling.
Pere Calders (1912-1994)
Pere Calders is a narrator known for his significant contributions to the short story and novel genres. He is particularly recognized and appreciated for his short stories, the most popular and successful aspect of his narrative work. The Spanish Civil War interrupted the beginning of his literary career; he enlisted in the army to defend the Republican and Catalan cause. After the war, he went into exile, settling in Mexico, where he published Cròniques de la veritat oculta (1955), considered one of the foundational works of his short story writing and a testament to his maturity and skill.
Mercè Rodoreda (1909-1983)
Mercè Rodoreda’s literary journey began during the period of Republican Catalonia. She published a series of novels, but only Aloma survived from the pre-Civil War period, establishing her as a renowned author. Her style matured, and she skillfully conveyed the atmosphere of a historical time marked by significant changes in the perception of women. Aloma also showcased her poetic talent. The war became a recurring theme in her work, often linked to nightmares and human cruelty, reflecting its profound impact on her life and writing. After living in exile in Paris, she wrote La plaça del Diamant, a pivotal novel that marked her return to the Catalan literary world. She also compiled her short stories and won the Victor Català Prize with Vint-i-dos contes. Her writing emphasizes subjective and poetic narration, utilizing stream of consciousness and interior monologue.
La plaça del Diamant (1962) and Later Works
La plaça del Diamant (1962) was written during Rodoreda’s time in Geneva, with her companion, the writer Armand Obiols, witnessing the creative process. Rodoreda masterfully depicts the inner world of Natalia (Colometa), an extraordinary and relatable character with a universal appeal. The novel’s enduring power lies in its masterful style and language. Another significant work in Rodoreda’s trajectory is Mirall trencat (1974), whose title suggests a departure from the concept of realistic fiction as a mirror reflecting reality. Twentieth-century authors often adopted partial and subjective viewpoints, recognizing the impossibility of complete objectivity. The evolution of the novel saw the introduction of myth, a shift from closed to open narratives, and a transition from realism to magical realism, embracing hope amidst pessimism.
This trend influenced Rodoreda’s aesthetics, leading her towards romantic and symbolist influences. Her writing embraced magical idealism, celebrating dreams, childhood wonder, and a return to nature. Recurring symbols in her novels, such as flowers and gardens, often connect to themes of childhood and innocence.