Evolving Expressions of Sensitivity in Literature

May 1, 2024

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Lecture Notes: Expressions of Sensitivity in HLP - Chapter 2

Summary

This video lecture discusses the concept of sensitivity and its broader implications beyond mere emotionality, covering its depiction in literature particularly from the 18th century onwards. Sensitivity encompasses both physical perceptions and moral-mental reactions, such as emotions, feelings, desires, and thoughts. There is an exploration of how sensitivity became a positive social value with the Enlightenment, contrasting with the restraint of earlier periods. Additionally, the lecture examines how sensitivity is expressed across various art forms and the challenges inherent in authentically conveying internal life through language and other media.

Definitions and Basic Concepts

  • Sensitivity: More than just emotionality; the capability to perceive and react to environmental stimuli, encompassing both the body and the mind.
  • Expression: Derived from the idea of "pressing out," such as expressing juice from a lemon; it involves externalizing internal physical or emotional states.

Historical Context

  • Pre-18th century: Sensitivity was not considered a positive value; society valued reason, order, and hierarchy.
  • Enlightenment (18th century): Shift towards democratic and individualistic ideals, favoring emotional expression and personal sincerity.
  • Romantic period (late 18th century): Emphasis on individual feelings, with art and literature reflecting more expressive and emotive content.

Societal Perceptions and Changes

  • Classical Age: Emotions and passions were mistrusted, leading to a controlled expressiveness aligned with social and moral moderation.
  • Post-Enlightenment: Increasing validation of individual emotions and personal expressions, seen in changes in art (e.g., smiles in portraits) and social behaviors.
  • Gardens' symbolism:
    • French gardens (17th century): Ordered, symmetrical, controlled.
    • English gardens (18th century): Spontaneous, imitative of natural disorder, encouraging intimacy and reflection.
  • Pre-Romantic and Romantic periods: Intensified focus on emotional depth, individualism, and a fascination with nature.

The Role of Sensitivity in Literature and Art

18th Century

  • Emergence of self-narratives and autobiographies, e.g., Rousseau's "Confessions," focusing on sincere self-presentation.
  • Development of the psychological novel and the epistolary novel, which explored multiple subjectivities.

19th Century and Beyond

  • Sensitivity as both a means of intense joy and profound suffering:
    • Exploration of extreme emotions in romantic literature, often leading to tragic outcomes.
    • Philosophical implications: Sensitivity as a gateway to understanding reality through empirical and sensualist philosophies.
  • Utilization of literary techniques such as stream of consciousness and internal monologue to depict the unordered flow of thoughts and sensations.
  • Psychological complexity became a focal theme, influenced strongly by Freudian psychoanalysis.

Expression Challenges

  • Difficulty in truly conveying internal emotions and thoughts due to language limitations and subjective interpretation barriers.
  • Literary attempts to bridge the gap between internal experiences and external expression often revealed through the imperfect and arbitrary nature of language.

Conclusion

The evolving treatment of sensitivity in literature reflects a broader societal appreciation of individual emotional experiences while also highlighting the inherent challenges of authentically depicting such internal states. The lecture hints at the ongoing struggle between expressing genuine sensitivity and the limitations imposed by conventional means of expression. The next video will further explore the transformations of sensitivity in modern contexts.

Stay tuned for the next video on the metamorphoses of sensitivity.