romanticcc

After our discussion about "El Legajo" on wednesday, I find myself intrigued by Lucio's romanticized vision of his ancestors: the wife who no longer loved her husband, the secret lover, the discovery and ensuing dual between husband and lover, and of course, death. This element of Pardo Bazan's story, the inclusion of the protagonists's romantic imagination, is interesting in terms of naturalist writing and the application of the scientific to literature. As we discussed in class, Pardo Bazan was not entirely convinced by Zola's propositions, and I think that by including Lucio's fantasy within her story is a testament to the value she places on the voluntad of the individual. At the same time, by placing a romantic vision within the story itself, Pardo Bazan creates a contrast between the ideas proposed in romantic writing and naturalist writing. When Lucio discovers the true story of his ancestors the naturalist cause is further supported.

Nonetheless, I think it is true that some people are romantics. Being a romantic does not necessarily mean that you believe your ideas to be realistic, but hey, it can be fun to be a romantic (albeit you are more likely to be letdown by reality) just in time for valentine's day!