Naturalismo e Verismo || Zola VS Verga

Summary

This video delves into the literary movements of Naturalism and Verismo, exploring their origins and key figures. Naturalism, rooted in French philosophical positivism, emphasizes scientific observation of society and human behavior, with key contributors like Zola, Flaubert, and Balzac. Verismo, its Italian counterpart, takes a similar approach but with a focus on realism and social issues in Italy, notably through authors like Verga and Capuana. The video also discusses the influence of scientific and philosophical ideas on these movements and their lasting impact on literature.

Takeaways

• 😀 Naturalism is a literary movement that emerged in France between 1870 and 1890, initially confused with Realism, but later distinct due to its focus on scientific analysis of human nature.
• 😀 Naturalism is heavily influenced by positivism, a philosophical movement that emphasizes scientific and empirical approaches to understanding the world, particularly societal and biological phenomena.
• 😀 Positivism, based on the ideas of thinkers like Auguste Comte and Charles Darwin, highlights the importance of scientific methods in understanding human evolution and societal structures.
• 😀 According to Comte, human progress follows three stages: theological, metaphysical, and positive, with the positive stage emphasizing scientific analysis of society and nature.
• 😀 Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, published in 1859, emphasized the role of natural selection in the survival of species, which also influenced naturalistic thought in literature.
• 😀 Key precursors to French Naturalism include writers like Honoré de Balzac, Gustave Flaubert, and the Goncourt brothers, whose works focus on depicting various aspects of French society through scientific observation.
• 😀 Flaubert's 'Madame Bovary' (1857) is a classic example of Naturalism, portraying the tragic life of Emma Bovary and her disillusionment with her romanticized fantasies of life.
• 😀 The concept of 'bovarism' refers to the psychological tendency to construct a false identity or pursue unattainable dreams, as exemplified by Emma Bovary in Flaubert's novel.
• 😀 Émile Zola is considered the leader of French Naturalism, advocating for the application of scientific methods to literature, with a focus on heredity and the influence of social environment on individuals.
• 😀 Zola's cycle of 20 novels, known as 'Les Rougon-Macquart,' aims to portray all aspects of French society under the Second Empire, examining various social classes and environments.
• 😀 In Italy, the Naturalist movement influenced writers like Luigi Capuana and Giovanni Verga, although they adapted it to local contexts, focusing on social mechanisms and developing an impersonal narrative style.

Q & A

What is the main difference between naturalism and verismo?

The main difference is that naturalism is a French literary movement that applies scientific principles to literature, while verismo is the Italian counterpart that adapts these principles to the Italian social and cultural context, particularly focusing on the realities of life in Italy.

How did positivism influence naturalism?

Positivism, a philosophical movement, emphasized the use of scientific methods to analyze human behavior and society. It influenced naturalism by promoting the idea that literature should reflect the same scientific rigor, examining human actions as results of biological and social conditions.

What role did Charles Darwin's theory of evolution play in the development of naturalism?

Darwin's theory of evolution, which suggests that species evolve through natural selection, contributed to naturalism's focus on biological influences in human life. It led writers to explore how human behavior could be shaped by hereditary traits and environmental conditions.

Who are considered the precursors of naturalism in literature?

Honoré de Balzac, Gustave Flaubert, and the Goncourt brothers are considered precursors of naturalism. Their works laid the foundation for the naturalist approach by observing and classifying social realities and human types.

What is Flaubert's contribution to naturalism?

Flaubert's novel *Madame Bovary* is a key contribution to naturalism. It explores the life of a woman dissatisfied with her provincial life, showcasing the use of scientific observation in depicting psychological and social realities, and exemplifying Flaubert's 'impersonal' approach to literature.

What is 'bovarism' as discussed in the context of Flaubert's *Madame Bovary*?

'Bovarism' refers to a psychological condition in which a person creates a false identity or desires an idealized life that is disconnected from their social reality. It is derived from the character Emma Bovary's dissatisfaction and longing for a life of romance and luxury.

What key features distinguish verismo from naturalism?

Verismo, while influenced by naturalism, differs in its more regional focus on the realities of life in southern Italy. It also emphasizes the impersonal nature of the narrative and the need for writers to remain detached from their characters, unlike earlier literary traditions.

What is the significance of the impersonal style in verismo?

The impersonal style in verismo, championed by authors like Giovanni Verga, meant that the writer should disappear from the narrative, leaving no judgment or commentary. This technique aimed to create a more objective and scientific portrayal of reality.

How did Luigi Capuana contribute to the development of verismo?

Luigi Capuana was a critical figure in spreading the ideas of naturalism in Italy, especially through his writings in the *Corriere della Sera*. While he admired Zola's methods, Capuana was critical of certain aspects, particularly the emphasis on political and social commitment, and instead focused on scientific precision in literary technique.

Why did the verismo movement decline by the 1890s?

By the 1890s, verismo was overshadowed by the rise of psychological novels, which focused more on the internal, mental states of characters rather than external social conditions. As a result, verismo lost its prominence, particularly with the triumph of psychological realism.