Modern literature, period from Romanticism to Symbolism
A Poetess of Excess
Florbela's poetry is characterizedby recurringthemesof suffering, loneliness,disappointment, associated with immensetenderness andadesire
for happiness andfulfillment thatcan only be achievedin the absolute,the infinite.Thepassionatevehemenceof her language, markedly personal, focused on herown frustrationsand anxieties,reflects sensualismoftenerotic.
Poetessof excess, cultivated
excessivelythe passion, with distinctlyfemalevoice. Her poetry, even sinningsometimesfor someconventionality,
has arousedcontinuing interestof readers andresearchers. She is considered as thegreat womanofPortuguese literaturefrom theearly decadesof
the twentieth century.
Mariza singing "Desejos Vãos" (Florbela Espanca)
The most international Portuguese fado singer, Mariza, gives voice to Florbela Espanca through her poem "Desejos Vãos".
Modern literature, period from Romanticism to Symbolism
Clepsidra, the apogee of Portuguese Symbolism
CamiloPessanhawasoneof the most
importantPortuguese poets. Maximum
exponentof Symbolism,wrotepoems andsonnetsof greatrhythmicand
formalquality. His workinfluencedwriters such asFernandoPessoaand
Máriode Sá-Carneiro. Hispoems were collectedin a collectionentitledClepsidra, considered one of thebest booksof Portuguese poetry. With greatsensitivity, he wrote ofunattainable idealsand the futilityof human endeavor. CamiloPessanhawas
partof Symbolism, a movement from
Franceand Germany, which sought to express the realitythrough symbols. His poetrywasmelancholicand pessimistic.
The poetcombinesin his poetry the symbolistand modernistsensibilities, through thelonging forunattainableideals, expressed
incarefulmusicalityon the one hand, and, second, stressing the materiality
of writing.
The passage of
time, its
irreversibility, isoneof the mostobsessive reasonsof this poetry,translatedthrough the symbolof "water",
included inthe title itself. Thewater runsin its
twocontradictory meanings: source
oflife and originof the
dissolutionand death.
O Livro de Cesário Verde (posthumous edition in 1871)
Historical period in literature: Modern literature, period from Romanticism to Symbolism
The Poetry in Cesário Verde
Theme
1-The dichotomycity/field
the city asurban and social placewherethe poetwanders,allowing him tocollectdetailedimpressionsof places,environments, characters.In his poems appear differentsocial typestypical of urban space- peoplein the workplace(pavers, blacksmiths, laborers,bakers, theironing)and others (the bourgeois woman,cold,aristocratic,luxurious,drunkards, prostitutes).The city of Vesário Verde isa"living city" inactivity, stageof progress and also of social injustice.
the field as space to overcome limitationsand humiliation;evasion space,a symbol of healthand life
2-Social issues
antagonismrich/poor,hard working conditions, suffering(disease,poverty,humiliation)thatthe weakare condemned.
Language and style
Cesário uses a "realistic" vocabulary composed of short sentences. The use of the adjective and adverb are a constant in his speech. This way the poet gets a faithful reproduction of reality interspersing with poetic figurations that transfigure the reality.
Modern literature, period from Romanticism to Symbolism
The literary work
In
the workof thisimportant figureof Portuguese literature, creator of the
modern novel, can be distinguishedusually threeaestheticphases: first, theromantic
influence, which includes the textsincluded in Prosas Bárbarasand goes tillMistério da Estrada de Sintra; the second, pure affirmationof Realism,which begins withparticipation in theCasino Conferencesand is fully revealedin the novelsO Primo Basílio and O Crime do Padre
Amaro; and third,
the overcomingofRealism-Naturalism,
reflectedin the novelsOs
Maias, A Ilustre Casa de Ramires
and A Cidade e as Serras.
O Primo Basílio
Through
thethemeof adultery, this work mainly focuses onthe fatal consequencesof aromanticfemale education. Luísa,married toJorge,amining engineer,hadasentimentaleducationandconsumes
theday with the same routine. Aprolonged absenceof her husband
coincides with the Basílio’s arrival, cousin and formerboyfriend ofLuísa,who made fortunein Braziland nowitappearswith the charm of the sophisticated lifein Paris.Weakenedby the type ofeducation shehad, the lack ofcontact
withJorgeand the gathering withLeopoldina, a friend that made up foranunhappy marriagewith a succession oflovers,Luísacan’t
yield tothecousin attempts and
has with him, secretly, manydates.
Meanwhile, the maidJulianacaptures someletters
exchangedbetween the lovers andbeginsblackmailingLuísa.The relationshipeventually ends and Basílio leaves toParis.The Juliana requirements willbeincreasing, even after the return ofJorge. Luísa begins doing the
housework, while her healthgets
worse.
In
turn, Juliana,
whois seriously ill, dies,
which allowSebastião,afamily friend, to retrieve
the letters.Luísathinks herselfsaved.Achance,however,reveals everythingto Jorge, who confronts her withthe fact. Luisagets
sickand eventuallydies.In the end,Basílioreturns
toLisbon,once againto showthecharacterofconqueror withoutscruples.
O Primo Basílioreflectswith greatsubtletyand
realismthe differentenvironments
ofLisbon in that time,
habits and values ofbourgeoisie.To thiscontributes significantlyitsgallery of exceptionalsecondary characters, which includesthe maidJuliana,Leopoldina,
Sebastião, Julião,Joana,D. Felicidade andthe CounselorAcácio.
O Crime do Padre Amaro
Eca
deQueiróstheorizesaboutNaturalism,
defined as anew methodto face the truth, and assignsto artapedagogical
missionof social reform.In thisperspective, the work aims todenounce thesocial and moralevilsresulting from thepriesthood withoutcalling andfalsereligious education.
Thefiercecriticism to theCatholic clergyand thepernicious effectsof its presence inbourgeoishomes, besides the seduction process ofAmeliabyAmaro;
his crime, announced in the title,corresponds to thesacrifice of his ownson,unfoldsin a
series ofscenes andsecondary
characters, which brings out the cynicismand lustof thecanon
Dias.
A Relíquia
Itsepigraph–"On thestrongnakednessof
truth, thetranslucentmantleof
fantasy"–becamefamous forsynthesizingthe alliancebetween realismand imagination, naturalism andfantastic,alliance, moreover, evident in the workand confirmedin the "Introduction".
From the
central plot– the
journeyof TeodoricotheHoly
Land,where he brings, not arelic thathad promised to thepiousaunt, but,
by mistake, the nightshirtof alover –standsthe
dream ortravel on time of the protagonist that,accompanied by hislearned friendDr.Topsius, attends the hearing,trial and deathof Jesus. The workthat
exaltsthe human figureof Christas a paradigmof love andkindnesswas consideredheretical bymost conservative sectors,by questioningthe divinityof Christ.
WhileCamilo Castelo Brancoresorts tosarcasmandparodyto express thevanityof the worldin general,Eçamakes use ofirony
andsatire, more subtleand delicate, as it is visible inA Relíquia, narrative of thePortuguese manof the nineteenth century, deformedbywomenthrough aChristian education that, in addition to notprepare forthe
practical realities oflife,denies
himand confusesbasic drives,
contaminating him with valuesthat
he is notable to find in a world wherehuman love isephemeraland lovedivineunreliable,
and seeming togive himabitgrandiloquentrhetoric little appropriate to this
context. The aim is,at bottom,once again, to draw a pictureof whatis thegreat
latent characterof the Eça’s work:Portugal.
Os Maias
This
is themasterpiece byEça de Queirós andoneof the most
importantof all thePortuguesenarrative literature. It is worth especially
by the languageand the fine
ironywith which the authordefines
thecharacters and presents the
situations. It isarealistic novel(and naturalist) where fatalism, social analysis, adventuresand catastrophe typical of the passionate plot
aren’t absent.
The
workdeals
with thestory of a family(Maia)
throughout threegenerations, focusing then on thenext generationand givingrelief to theincestuouslovesof
Carlosda Maiaand MariaEduarda. But the history
is alsoapretext forthe author to criticize thedeteriorating
conditionof the country (political and cultural)and the Lisboanupper middle classnineteenth-century, where permeates a humor (sometimes thin,sometimessatirical)
that sets the defeat anddisappointment
of all the characters.
- andpoetic thatdeals with the Love and the Reason, sources of harmonyin the individual and on thesociety; the
night, dreams anddeath, the pessimismof
returningto emptiness.
Theessential themesof his poetryare God, Love,Justice, Fraternity, Death,Lonelinessand Emptiness.
Historical period in literature: Modern literature, Romantic period
The impact of Amor de Perdição
The novel
Novelcomposedin 1861by CamiloCastelo
Branco, during the timethe
authorwas arrestedfor adultery
in Oporto. It has been written based on
anactual episodein the life ofhis uncle, Simão Botelho, that would have beentold him byanaunt. However,
Camilo’s manipulation and fictionare sofree, that converted the novel into themost famous sentimental novelof
Portuguese Romanticism. The plot isultra-romantic: the protagonists,
Simão andTeresa, sons oftwoenemy
familiesof Viseu, the BotelhosandAlbuquerques, fall in love. On
Baltasar Coutinho’s advice, cousin and promised to Teresa, Tadeu de Albuquerque
decides to send the daughter to the Monchique’s convent, in Oporto. Simão is waiting for themoutsideViseu, confronts Baltasar and kills himby shooting, surrendering immediately to
justice. Arrested in Oporto, he is sentenced to exile.
When
embarkingfor India, Simão can stillglimpsehis beloved, whosays goodbye tohim,almostdying, worn out by
misfortune. Hours later,Simãobecomes aware of thedeath ofTeresaand diestoo.
Thegenuinecharacterof the novel, that breaks withromanticconventionality,
is, however, Mariana, a good and selfless
girl, who, feeling anabsolute loveforSimãoand
hopeless,acts as intermediarybetweenSimão andTeresa, deciding tojoin himin
exile andkill herselfafter his
death, embracinghisdead bodythrown overboard.
Besides
thepassionate
andtragicstory, where love, hate and revenge,in its manynuancesappear,
according to some scholars Camilo also intended to do a social
criticism, namely report the society’s blind obedience to the obsolete prejudice of family honor.
The movie
Amor de Perdição has been adapted in 1978 into a movie directed by Manoel de Oliveira, who won the Jury's Special Award at the Festival of Figueira da Foz.
Main cast was composed of: Adelaide João; António Sequeira Lopes; Cristina Hauser; Elsa
Wallencamp; Duarte de Almeida; Henrique Viana; Lia Gama; Manuela de
Freitas; Ruy Furtado.
Pedro Bandeira Freire and Manoel de Oliveira and an excerpt.
Initiatorof Romanticism, refounderof Portuguese theater, creator ofmodernlyricism,
creator of modern prose, journalist,
politician, legislator,Garrettisa realexample
of the inseparablealliancebetween political manandwriter,citizen and poet.
Enthusiastic supporter of Liberalism that in the
nineteenth century radically transforms the Portuguese society, Garrettwasa Portugueseinterventivein variousfacets of life.
He
is considered bymany authors asthemost
completePortuguese writerof the
nineteenth century, since heleft
usmasterpiecesin poetry,
drama and prose, innovating writingand compositionin each of these literary
genres.
Garrettwas alsothe major driving forceof the theaterin PortugalfromRomanticism.
It washe who proposedthe building of theTeatro NacionalD.MariaII andthe establishment of theConservatory. The
situation of theaterin the countryhas been radicallyaltered by the
presenceof Garrett. He managed
tochange the foundationsof the
theater which began to be associated with the concerns of a society
better and better literate and attentive.
Literary work rich in different genres
Camões is a poem
writtenin 1825whichis
attributed tothe beginningof
Portuguese Romanticism.
Althoughscarce,the novelistic workofGarrettstands out for theoriginality.As Viagens na Minha Terracan be consideredthe firstPortuguesemodern narrativeusing an informalstyle,
in permanent dialogue withthe reader,
theauthor presentsin the manner
ofStern, amasterpiece ofintellectualirony; under the pretext ofatravel’s chronic, offers a comprehensiveand lucidrepresentationof the actual time.
Frei Luís de Sousa
is the largestPortugueseromantic drama, written by Garrettand oneof the bestplaysof Portuguese
literature. It wasfirst
performedin 1843 andpublished
in the following year.
Folhas
Caídas is the
last and mostimportant work ofGarrett, publishedanonymouslyin
1835, and the best work ofPortugueseRomantic poetry.
