The science tree. Review and analysis

The tree of knowledge review

The science tree It is, according to his own Pio Baroja, the best novel he wrote. Considered semi-autobiographical, it reflects his own experiences identifying with the main character, Andres Hurtado. This is a detailed review and analysis about it.

The tree of knowledge — review

Posted in 1911, the central theme is a story of existential disorientation. tells the life of Andres Hurtado, a man lost in a meaningless life and in the midst of adversities that lead him to continuous disappointments. It is divided into 7 parts with 53 chapters of extension not very long. However, there are also two cycles or stages of Hurtado's life, separated by an intermission in the fourth part.

Parties

La first and second are dedicated to andres training, his family and studies. His family environment makes him a withdrawn boy who feels abandoned. His brothers and, above all, the rigidity and continuous disagreements with his father They will determine your subsequent concept of life.

In his medical studies (like Baroja) he found nothing to calm his desire for knowledge. university and science are generally in a sorry state, the students show no interest in learning and are cruel, and the teachers are inept and incompetent. In addition, his contacts with the sick in the hospitals, the miseries and more cruelties make him fall into another state of depression.

Apart from his studies, Andrés also discovers new social scourges: those that surround Lulu, for example, a Woman which will then powerfully influence his life, and the long illness and death of his brother little Louis. These facts will make him skeptical before science.

Is in the third part where we see the great disorientation of the protagonist In the quarter we have a debate with its uncle iturrioz where they discuss the experience of living.

La fifth and sixth show us an Andrés with new experiences in the countryside and the city, his return to Madrid and the reappearance of Lulú.

El bad environment from the people of Manchego (Alcolea del Campo) where he began to practice as a doctor produced a deep discomfort and decides to go Madrid. But there he too will find himself lost and with the same anguish. Everything also leads to a absolute pessimism in terms of politics and isolates himself more and more.

And in the seventh su marriage with lulu it will give you relative peace. But life will not give him rest and after the death of his son and then his wife, the final disappointment will cause his suicide.

Characters

In addition to the main ones, there are many more secondary ones. Baroja gives more importance to some like the Andrew's father, despot deceptive in appearance; Julio Aracil, friend from the unscrupulous university, cynical and a born playboy; Luisito, the little brother, of a great tenderness; and uncle Iturrioz, philosopher of very particular theories. This dissection of characters is also a Barojian characteristic.

As for those only mentioned in passing, we have the useless teachers, the wicked students, sick and hospital staff, the people of Alcolea and many others.

Baroja uses a stepwise characterization technique, that is to say, their characters are defined little by little, they evolve and gradually acquire their humanity.

Setting

It is also a fundamental element. The Scenes like Andrés's corner, what can be seen from his window, the cafes, the dissection room, the hospitals, the house of the Minglanillas and others. The scenery are without long descriptions, as for example, the sketches of the Valencian town, the house or the orchards. Wave of Alcolea, your space, the light, the sweltering heat of summer, or the atmosphere of the founded, the casino and the streets etc

Social context

The science tree shows very well the situation of the country in the years around 1898. In Andrés's medical studies, one can already appreciate the cultural poverty that there was, where the incompetence of teachers and insists on the disinterest of the students and the contempt generally for science and research.

But where is the true vision of the Spanish society of the time is in the comparison between life in the country and the city. The rural world of Alcolea is a dead world, governed by the lack of solidarity and passivity of its inhabitants in the face of injustice. In addition, it is reported despotism that existed. And the city is a place where misery reappears in opposition to the insouciance of the richest. Before this the protagonist feels a terrible anger for which there seems to be no solution and which is leaning towards a radical anarchism.

Pessimism

Key concept of this novel that, as Baroja also reviewed, was about a philosophical work whose center is in existential conflicts. In summary, the life of the human being remains without explanation or meaning, and as one phrase says: "... it seemed to him something ugly, cloudy, painful and indomitable."

Ultimately

The science tree It is very much from Baroja both for its content and focus and for its formal aspects, and it is the most representative novel of the time.


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