The Tree of Knowledge by Pío Baroja
This is a page turner book beautifully written by Pío Baroja, one of the key novelists of the “ Generation of 98 ”. He studied medicine and also took a medical degree at the Complutense University in Madrid, although educated as a physician he practiced only briefly . His memories of student life are the raw material for this engaging novel “ The Tree of Knowledge ”. I should put focus on the main character’s lack of motivation regarding to his studies . He considers the class to be a sideshow and as a consecuence he failed an important chemistry exam and became completely indifferent toward medicine. The way the writer describes this terrible apathy within a community context of social exclusion is claimed to be the strongest point of the plot .
Irrelevant texts, an inadequate instructor and excitement are feelings which are brilliantly mixed up. The curiosity about philosophy is another aspect to mention , the main character developed a particular interest in the writings of Immanuel Kant and Arthur Schopenhauer. I would say that the philosophical side and the social context play a vital role in this story. In the “ Tree of Knowledge ” the reader will discover different philosophical ways of looking at the world. A negative percetion of society and a desire to remain detached from the world will make the reader notice a considerable disillusionment with the Spain the main character inhabits so he adopts a rationalist approach to life. This novel seems to trace the development of Pío Baroja from the beliefs of Andrés, a joung boy who fails to recognise that the problem resides within him until the very end of the book. The reader will enjoy the central part that follows a discurssion between Andrés and his uncle Iturrioz , where they argued and promoted a practical approach for life in order to search for knowledge. To sum up, the plot is a smart review of a Spain lacking hope and progress.