Railways, and other railways
It was during the last breaths of the 19th century that Émile Zola wrote the novel La Bête humaine, when the train, according to the expert Gisèle Séginger, was about to become a literary topos. Séginger believes that, contrary to Flaubert's tastes, Zola emphasized the beauty of the modern world in this story. That made the railway universe a mirror of modernity.
It is true that the protagonist, Jacques Lantier, not only drives but also loves the locomotive; behind the detailed descriptions of the trains, a certain facination is perceived by the author; and so on. But it seems to me that Zola also wanted to show the reverse: it has seemed to me a novel of blind murders, of revenge, of passions, of a world that is changing, but not necessarily, and in all fields, for the better. The man who leads the new world remains a beast—hence the title—thirsts for blood. He kills her because it's natural to him.
Leaving for another the readings that can be made of sexual violence or war, I would highlight the critical vision that the novel gives of development, understood in the sense of progreso-progrès. The picture that closes the book is quite eloquent: the train drivers fight together, the machine runs at full speed and full of drunken soldiers singing, who knows where. It is not the most beautiful way to portray the modern world.
In any case, you will not tell me that in view of this month's Azpeitia murder, the image is not useful. Some alleged soldiers have stopped the train, but they have stopped the life of an innocent man. We do not know where their next railway station will be, but they have very well paved the way for those who want to explain a critical view like Zola's. And in the meantime, the drivers continue to fight together in the locomotive of politics.
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Atxik Berrituz giristino taldeak Kristauak Euskal Herriko bake prozesuan liburua argitaratu du Maiatz argitaletxearekin. Giristinoek euskal bake prozesuan zer nolako engaiamendua ukan duten irakur daiteke, lekukotasunen bidez.
Maiatzaren 17an Erriberako lehenengo Euskararen Eguna eginen da Arguedasen, sortu berri den eta eskualdeko hamaika elkarte eta eragile biltzen dituen Erriberan Euskaraz sareak antolatuta
