3. Symbolism as a Modern Literary Movement

Introduction

Symbolism was a powerful literary movement that started in the late 19th century and played an important role in shaping modern literature. It was a reaction against realism and naturalism, which focused on describing the external world in great detail. Instead, Symbolism turned inward, focusing on the inner life, emotions, dreams, and the world of imagination. It used symbols, metaphors, and suggestive language to express what could not be said directly. The Symbolist writers believed that literature should represent absolute truths that could only be described indirectly.

Symbolism began in France and soon spread across Europe and influenced many modern literary movements. It also had a strong impact on modern poetry, drama, and fiction. In simple terms, Symbolism was about looking beyond the surface and using poetic and imaginative language to show deeper meanings.

Historical Background

Symbolism began in the 1860s and 1870s in France as a reaction against scientific thinking, rationalism, and the materialism of the Industrial Revolution. Writers and artists felt that reality could not be understood only through science or logic. They believed in mystery, spirituality, and inner experience.

The movement was also a response to Realism and Naturalism, which focused on everyday life, ordinary people, and objective descriptions. Symbolists wanted to go beyond the visible world and explore the unseen, the emotional, and the mysterious. They were inspired by earlier Romantic poets but wanted to create something new that would reflect the complexity of the human mind.

The Symbolist Movement was influenced by earlier poets like Charles Baudelaire, who is often considered the father of Symbolism. His collection Les Fleurs du Mal (The Flowers of Evil) inspired many young writers to explore dark and hidden aspects of life through symbolic language.

In 1886, the movement gained recognition when the French poet Jean Moréas published the Symbolist Manifesto in the newspaper Le Figaro. He described Symbolism as a way to represent absolute truths through symbols and suggested meanings rather than direct statements.

Main Features of Symbolism

Symbolism had some key features that made it different from other literary movements of its time:

1. Use of Symbols

Symbolists used objects, images, or ideas to represent something deeper. For example, a rose might symbolize love, a sunset might represent death, or a bird might stand for freedom. These symbols were often personal and open to many interpretations.

2. Musical Language

Symbolist poets tried to make their poems sound like music. They used rhythm, sound patterns, and repetition to create a musical effect. They believed that the sound of words could evoke emotions, just like music.

3. Subjectivity and Emotion

Symbolism focused on the inner world of the writer—their thoughts, feelings, dreams, and memories. It was personal and emotional rather than objective and factual.

4. Mystery and Imagination

Symbolist literature often explored the mysterious, the spiritual, and the unknown. Writers were interested in dreams, myths, and the supernatural. They believed that poetry should not explain but suggest meanings.

5. Reaction Against Realism

Symbolism rejected the detailed descriptions and social themes of Realism. Instead of showing life as it is, Symbolists wanted to show life as it is felt or imagined.

6. Aestheticism

Symbolist writers believed in “art for art’s sake.” They thought that literature should not serve politics, religion, or morality. It should be beautiful, imaginative, and expressive.

Major Symbolist Writers

1. Charles Baudelaire (1821–1867)

Often considered the pioneer of Symbolism, Baudelaire’s poetry explored themes of beauty, sin, death, and the modern city. His most famous work Les Fleurs du Mal (The Flowers of Evil) used rich imagery and powerful symbols. He believed that poetry could connect the physical world with the spiritual.

2. Stéphane Mallarmé (1842–1898)

Mallarmé was a central figure in the Symbolist movement. His poems were complex and filled with abstract symbols. He believed that language itself could create magic. His poem L’Après-midi d’un faune (The Afternoon of a Faun) inspired music and art as well.

3. Paul Verlaine (1844–1896)

Verlaine used musical language and emotional expression in his poetry. His poems were often soft, romantic, and dream-like. His collection Romances sans paroles (Songs Without Words) shows the gentle, musical quality of Symbolist poetry.

4. Arthur Rimbaud (1854–1891)

Rimbaud was a young poet whose wild imagination and dreamlike poems influenced later writers. His work Illuminations is a series of prose poems filled with strange and powerful symbols. Rimbaud believed in the idea of the “visionary poet” who sees beyond the normal world.

5. W. B. Yeats (1865–1939)

Yeats, an Irish poet, was influenced by French Symbolism. His early poetry used symbols from Irish mythology and folklore. He believed in mysticism and spiritual truths. Later, he developed his own system of symbols to express historical and personal themes.

6. Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926)

A German-language poet from Prague, Rilke’s poetry is filled with religious and philosophical symbols. He believed that poetry should express deep spiritual truths. His Duino Elegies and Sonnets to Orpheus are full of symbolic language and mystical meaning.

7. T. S. Eliot (1888–1965)

Although Eliot is often called a Modernist, his early poetry was deeply influenced by Symbolism. In The Waste Land, he used complex symbols and literary references to describe the spiritual crisis of modern life. His poems combine the techniques of Symbolism with the themes of Modernism.

Symbolism in Drama

Symbolism also influenced modern drama. Symbolist playwrights wanted to create a new kind of theatre that was dreamlike, poetic, and symbolic. They rejected realistic dialogue and settings and preferred mysterious, abstract scenes.

Maurice Maeterlinck (1862–1949)

A Belgian playwright and poet, Maeterlinck is one of the best-known Symbolist dramatists. His plays like The Blue Bird and Pelléas and Mélisande are full of mood, silence, and symbolic action. He believed that drama should express the soul’s hidden truths.

August Strindberg and Henrik Ibsen

These playwrights, though often associated with realism, also used symbolism in their later plays to explore psychological and spiritual themes. Strindberg’s A Dream Play and The Ghost Sonata are good examples.

Symbolism in Fiction

Though Symbolism was mostly a poetic movement, it also influenced fiction. Some novelists used symbolic language, mysterious settings, and dreamlike plots to express deeper meanings.

Joris-Karl Huysmans (1848–1907)

His novel À rebours (Against Nature) is often seen as a Symbolist novel. It follows the life of a man who rejects society and lives in a world of art, dreams, and imagination.

Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)

Wilde’s works, especially The Picture of Dorian Gray, use symbolism to explore beauty, sin, and the dual nature of humanity. The portrait in the novel is a powerful symbol of inner corruption.

Themes in Symbolist Literature

Symbolist writers often explored themes that were mysterious, emotional, and spiritual. Some common themes include:

• Death and Mortality: Many Symbolists were fascinated by death as a doorway to deeper truths.
• Love and Desire: Love was often shown as spiritual, tragic, or mystical.
• Dreams and the Unconscious: Writers explored dream logic and unconscious thoughts.
• Mysticism and Religion: Some Symbolists believed in hidden spiritual realities.
• Beauty and Art: Many works celebrated beauty and the artistic experience itself.
• Alienation and Inner Conflict: Symbolist writers often felt isolated and explored the complexity of the inner self.

Influence of Symbolism

Symbolism had a lasting impact on modern literature. It influenced many later movements like Modernism, Imagism, Surrealism, and the Theatre of the Absurd. It also helped to shape the language of 20th-century poetry and drama.

Modernist poets like T. S. Eliot, Wallace Stevens, and Ezra Pound were inspired by the Symbolists’ use of metaphor and imagery. Symbolism also influenced psychoanalytic literature and the use of the unconscious mind in writing.

In visual art, Symbolism inspired painters like Gustave Moreau, Odilon Redon, and Edvard Munch, who used rich imagery to express inner emotions.

Criticism of Symbolism

While Symbolism was admired for its beauty and imagination, it was also criticized for being vague and hard to understand. Some readers and critics felt that Symbolist poetry was too private or abstract. Others believed it lacked social purpose.

Realists and political writers disliked Symbolism because it avoided real-world problems. However, many others believed that Symbolism opened the door to a richer and deeper kind of literature.

Conclusion

Symbolism was a bold and imaginative movement that changed the way people thought about literature. It turned the focus inward—to dreams, emotions, and the mysteries of the human soul. By using symbols, musical language, and suggestion instead of direct description, Symbolists created a poetic world that invited many interpretations.

Though it began in France in the late 19th century, Symbolism quickly spread across Europe and left a lasting mark on literature, art, and philosophy. It prepared the way for Modernism and other 20th-century movements that continued to explore the depths of human experience.

Even today, readers and writers continue to be inspired by the beauty, mystery, and depth of Symbolist literature. It reminds us that words can do more than describe the world—they can also reveal hidden truths and stir the soul.