Introduction to Jose Marti
Jose Marti, the father of the Cuban Revolution is one of the most popular and emphatic faces of the modernist and later romantic Latino literature face. Born in Havana, Marti soon became a powerful literary figure of the Hispanic language who has staunchly opposed Spanish imperialism and worked to bring the American rulers to join hands against the onslaught of imperialism. Termed as a Latino Whitman, Marti’s output has been tremendous both in terms of volume as well as impact. Several of his works have won him everlasting acclaim as the face of the revolutionary America, or Latino American revolutionary. However, pitted in-between the romanticism and modernism styles, Jose Marti has demonstrated versatility in writing everything under the sun depicting not only his talent but also the richness of Latino literature. He has a very keen eye for nature as well as a keen sense and intellect for pragmatism to suggest political acumen. Almost every other work of Marti shows both schools amalgamating within him somewhere here and there. True to his nature as a romantic as well as modernism, his essay “Our America” shows Marti at his best by showing a revolutionary spirit in the beginning as well as the pragmatism of collecting people on the single platform on the other hand. In the same way, he has also shown the same spirit in his poem “Coney Island” where he again talks of America both as rich in resources and materialistic greed. Marti’s writings not only show his revolutionary spirit but also his pragmatic statesman as well as a lover of nature.
Revolutionary Spirit of Jose Marti
Whereas his revolutionary spirit is concerned, various of his works demonstrate his skill in creating a revolutionary spirit. Armed with great mind and writing skills, he asserts in his essay “Our America” that whatever the situation is, weapons of mind should never be left behind. He adds that “Barricades of ideas are worth more than the barricades of stones” over the Spanish and European imperialism of the Latin American colonies (324). He urged all the American republics to join hands to defeat the onslaught of imperialism and attackers. However, he also stressed upon the political stability at home removing discrimination of race and color which he sees as great impediments for the people to attain heroic status for their love for freedom. He is of the view that the time for the mobilization is there when there is any attack on the motherland occurs and this is the time that all the others should join hands with everyone else to defeat the attackers. In this connection, he is not only colonialism but also expansionism as he has attacked the Americans fighting abroad and asked them to fight for their country. He is in favor of the power of the natives as he has claimed in the same essay that “Government must originate in the country” (325) by which he means that the natives are capable enough to form their own government and run their own country. His revolutionary spirit is actually the same spirit of romanticism that has traveled from Europe to America and has crept into Latino literature too. It is evident in his other essay “Coney Island” where he again praises America saying “Does this colossal nation contain ferocious and terrible elements?” (130), adding that it lacks nothing but only that it is engulfed in materialism. This also shows his socialist spirit but that is engulfed in his fervor for revolution.
Colonialism and Jose Marti
However, it is quite interesting that he is standing at the verge of modernism where pragmatism rules the roost over the writers as well as thinkers about the future as well as the freedom from colonialism. Colonialism was raging at that time when Marti rose against the Spanish occupation of Cuba due to which he went to America and traveled to New York and other cities. That is why he has given the lesson of pragmatism of modernism to the politicians of Latino American countries and states. Due to the onslaught of colonialism, he knows that the one state or country or race cannot fight the invaders and that for that “Whatever is left of that sleepy hometown in America must awaken” adding that “uncultured masses are lazy and timid in the realm of intelligence” (326) which is a pragmatic approach when analyzing the people who are to govern themselves. At the same time, he has also seen that America, too, is going to involve itself in these things to which he alludes a little and goes to the root cause of progress and justice that he calls as knowledge as he says “Knowing is what counts” but quickly adds “To know one’s country and government it with that knowledge is the only way to free it from tyranny” (327). In his essay “Coney Island” the impacts of this pragmatic approach during the romantic period could be traced at the same time when he praises the verdant beauty of the North American region and also addresses the newspapers and unions. He shows it in another place when he says that “Other peoples—ourselves among them—live in prey to a sublime inner demon that drives us to a relentless pursuit of an ideal of love or glory” (133). This could be said only by a romantic one who is living in the modern age too and knows everything about both of them.
Jose Marti as Poet of Nature
At the same time, Jose Marti is a poet and loves nature which is evident not only in his prose but also in his poems. He even goes on to say in one of his poems “I am an honest man / From where the palm tree grows” (Lines 1-2) where his love for nature is evident. It shows that he loves nature for the sake of nature and knows that love for nature makes a person pure and honest. That is why honesty is parallel to trees. In the same way, it is also clear in his essay “Our America” which starts with a villager who lives close to nature. He, at the same time, holds everything natural as close to the heart of a natural man or man living in the state of nature. In this attempt, he has also used natural metaphorical language to depict different emotional states such as the metaphor of tiger and octopus but his attention is more on the natural man, his rights, and the justice and the impact of this justice on the local people to rise up against oppression. That is why he has advised his readers in his essay “Our American” that they should shun racial discrimination for in the state of nature all men are equal and of the same color. He has stressed upon it for the Americans to rise up against Spanish colonialism as he says “There can be no racial animosity, because there are no races” (329). Although it is also a pragmatic claim that he has made in this essay, for at that time he wants to bring the United States to stop Spain and get his homeland freed, still it shows his love for nature and love for equality.
Conclusion
Briefly stating, it could be said that Jose Marti has been a middle face of Latino literature who was steeped in both the movements; romanticism as well as modernism. He has written not only in the romantic vein but also in modern strain. He has been a revolutionary spirit and political soul. He has dibbed his fingers in everything but has always shown pragmatic tendencies. His essays “Our America” and “Coney Island” have ample evidences which show that as a romantic, he has shown his love for nature, his love for freedom and his love for equality. As a modern, he has shown political acumen to make the people rise up, to join hands with other countries to free his homeland, and to end racial discrimination. It is also that he has written much and has traveled widely, he is considered as one of the most popular Latino writers to have wider impacts on the whole Latino American region. He is considered as the pioneer of revolutionary Latino literature in America.
Works Cited
- Marti, Jose. Selected Writings. Edited and Translated by Esther Allen. New York: Penguin Books, 2001.
- ___. “Our America.” From The Norton Anthology of Latino Literature edited by Ilan Stavans. WWNorton, 2016. 628-639.
Relevant Questions about Jose Marti A Pragmatic Romantic Latino Voice
- How did Jose Marti’s upbringing and early life experiences shape his identity as a pragmatic romantic Latino voice?
- In what ways did Jose Marti’s writings and activism contribute to the promotion of Latino cultural identity and unity in the late 19th century?
- Can you explain some of the key themes and ideas in Jose Marti’s work that reflect his status as a pragmatic romantic, and how did these ideas resonate with the Latino community during his time and beyond?