Symbolism: origin, literature and characteristics

O symbolism was an artistic movement that occurred in Europe in the 19th century.

A vertente includes several languages ​​of art, with a highlight for literature, especially for poetry.

This is a tendency that has as it alienates opposition to the objectivity of previous movements such as Parnassianism, apart from two ideas of scientism and materialism.

Assim, or symbolism represents a way of expression traced to subjectivity, fantasy, mystery and flight of reality.

Origin and historical context of Symbolism

Or symbolism germinates in Europe in the second goal of the XIX century, more precisely in France, around 1880.

Nessa epoch, or world lived great changes, not so much so that it said that it respected social, economic and cultural matters.

Or advance of the capitalist system, to consolidation of the industrial revolution, to rise of the bourgeoisie and to disputes over new market niches and locations to explore, such as the African continent, will profoundly transform society. Later, these fatores unleash regrettable episodes such as the First World War (1914-1918).

I do not have the context or type of thinking that predominates was or scientism, of positivist origin. Such a philosophical line was extremely rational, and sought to understand and explain reality objectively, valuing science to the detriment of spirituality and metaphysical theories.

In the meantime, this form of reasoning was followed by a large number of people, mainly by social litters that were not "graceful" with the benefits of capitalism. These people even considered that this system had caused a certain spiritual disorder.

Assim, as a refutação to this vision of the world, emerges or symbolism, which mainly feared poetry, a place of development.

This new movement appears as an affirmation of spiritualist ideas, seeking an approximation of the human being as divine, or cosmic and or inexplicable.

A symbolist view was not very long-lasting, but it was extended to other countries, such as Portugal and Brazil.

Characteristics of the symbolist movement

As a foi dito, essa vertente has the objective of exalting an etheric and mystical character, valuing the human soul, or the unconscious and individuality. Also, we can say that the characteristics that stand out the most in this movement, são:

• Subjective and vague linguagem;
• Use of figures of linguagem;
• Exaltation of mysticism and fantasy;
• Valorization of creativity;
• Preference for underground, enigmatic, esoteric themes;
• Use of the unconscious;
• Valorization of "eu";
• Misturas of sensations such as vision, smell, palate, touch and hearing;
• Musicality.

Symbolism in literature

In spite of the fact that there are also visual arts, such as painting, or symbolism, they find fertile ground, no field of written language. Dessa forma, symbolist literature unfolds in a fluid manner, valuing the dreamlike, sensory and creative universe.

Writers often use an imprecise language, with resources such as alliterations, metaphors, onomatopoeia and synesthesia.

Oh, I think that this movement was Flores do Mal (1857), by the French Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867). Baudelaire was an admirer of another writer, Edgar Allan Poe, from whom he sought references and inspiration.

The issues most addressed nessa corrente are related to love, finitude of life, comfort, dreams, to the human psyche and others. We can say that symbolist literature takes some form of romantic themes and ideas.

Symbolism in Portugal

In Portugal, a work that inaugurates or symbolism and book of poems Oaristos, by Eugênio de Castro, published in 1890. Nessa height, no country has a strong influence, come through the magazines "Boemia Nova" and "Os Insubmissos".

Other important names within the movement for Antônio Nobre (1867-1900) and Camilo Pessanha (1867-1926).

A Portuguese poet who also stands out is Florbela Espanca (1894-1930), who despite not being totally symbolic, drinks from a literary font.

Portuguese symbolist poetry

Statueby Camilo Pessanha

Cansei-me of tempting or teu segredo:
No teu olhar sem cor, of cold scalpel,
O meu olhar quebrei, to debate it,
Like a wave na crista dum rochedo.
Segredo dessa alma e meu degredo
E minha obsessão! For baby
I was your oscular labium, I weigh it,
For noites of dread, cheio de medo.
E o meu fiery kiss, hallucinated,
Esfriou on or marble run
Desse entreberto lábio gelado ...
Discrete marble wash, discreet,
Severe as a dated burial mound,
Serene as a still stick.
(do livro Clepsydra)

No poem in questão, or author debruça on topics such as love, to lose being loved and or suffering that is mourning.

By means of metaphors, as much as funeral, or poet disagree about the feeling of frustration to or seek or love and not get to extract a carinhoso olhar, a reciprocal attitude.

Or poem reveals ainda or abyss existing between the people, mainly between two lovers, because it cannot be understood in the background to alma do outro.

Florbela Espanca

See also or video below as a poem Hate?, by Florbela Espanca, recited by actress Clara Troccoli.

Symbolism not Brazil

No Brazil, or symbolist movement appears in 1893, with publication of two books Missal and Broquis the poet Cruz e Sousa (1861-1898).

Another writer who represented symbolist poetry in only Brazilian was Alphonsus de Guimarães (1870-1921). Apart from them, we can also cite Augusto dos Anjos (1884-1914), who presents some elements of pre-modernism.

Brazilian symbolist poetry

Ismaliaby Alphonsus de Guimarães

When Ismália enlouqueceu,
Pôs-se na torre a sonhar ...
Viu uma lua no céu,
Viu outra lua no mar.

I don't dream of being lost
Banhou-se all em luar ...
I wanted to go up to or céu,
I wanted to go down to the sea ...

E, do not deviate seu from her,
Na tower pôs-se to sing ...
It was perto do céu,
Estava longe do mar ...

E like um anjo pendeu
As handles to fly ...

I wanted to lua do céu,
I wanted to lua do mar ...

So you handle that Deus lhe deu
Ruflaram up and down ...
Your soul rose to heaven,
Seu corpo de ella descended to the sea ...
Ismalia It is two of the most famous poems of the Brazilian symbolist period. He narrates the situation of a girl who, attacked by loucura, decides to throw herself into life.

In a singely and delicate manner or author fails us, in reality, about a tragedy, a moment of despair, delirium and insanity. A descriptive way of the text that leads us to imagine dinner.

Conheça also:

• Great poems of Augusto dos Anjos
• Poem Intimate Verses, by Augusto dos Anjos
• Os melhores poems by Florbela Espanca
• Naturalism