Enrique González Martínez
Encyclopedia
Enrique González Martínez (April 13, 1871 in Guadalajara, Jalisco
– February 19, 1952 in Mexico City
) was a Mexican
poet
, diplomat
, surgeon and obstetrician. His poetry is considered to be primarily Modernist in nature, with elements of French symbolism.
In 1893 Martínez received his doctorate degree in Guadalajara. During that same year he published a few verses in newspapers and magazines. Soon after receiving his degree, he was named adjunct professor of physiology at the School of Medicine. After two years of professional practice, he left his native city to go to Culiacán
, Sinaloa
. In this state his political ambitions began to develop; he became a political prefect in various areas of the state and Secretary General of government.
In 1903 Martínez's first book of poetry, Preludios, was published. With his third book, Silenter, he was received as a member of the Mexican Academy
, moving to Mexico City where he became president of the youth Ateneo (1912), founded the literary magazine Argos (1912) and edited the daily newspaper El Imparcial.
In his political ambitions he assumed the position of Undersecretary of Public Education and Fine Arts in 1913. The following year he became secretary of government of the State of Puebla
; Professor of French Literature in the School of Higher Studies, head of Literature and Grammar classes, and professor of Mexican Literature in the National Preparatory School in the Federal District. In 1917, in the company of other great literary lights such as Ramon Lopez Velarde
and Efrén Rebolledo, he directed Pegaso magazine.
Martínez entered the Mexican Foreign Service in 1920, occupying the position of plenipotentiary minister
of Mexico in Chile
, Argentina
, Spain
and Portugal
between the years 1920 and 1931. Later he returned to Mexico.
Late in 1942, Martínez entered the Seminary of Mexican Culture, and later in 1943, to the National School where he sustained conferences on diverse subjects of literary history. He was a member of the Mexican Academy of Language
and the Altamirano Grammar School. In 1944 he received the Ávila Camacho National Prize of Literature and his Poesías Completas was published.
He died in Mexico City in 1952.
took note of Martínez's poem "Tuércele el cuello al cisne" (Wring the Neck of the Swan), written in 1910 and published 1911. In this poem he signifies his break with Modernist rhetoric by indicating his desire to replace the swan, a primordial Modernist symbol, with the owl. He was praised by author and poet Octavio Paz
, who said of him, "Martínez was the only true modernist poet Mexico ever had."
Guadalajara, Jalisco
Guadalajara is the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco, and the seat of the municipality of Guadalajara. The city is located in the central region of Jalisco in the western-pacific area of Mexico. With a population of 1,564,514 it is Mexico's second most populous municipality...
– February 19, 1952 in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
) was a Mexican
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
, surgeon and obstetrician. His poetry is considered to be primarily Modernist in nature, with elements of French symbolism.
Life
Martínez received his early education at home. At the age of 10 he entered preparatory school, the Council Seminary, and the Liceo de Varones (Men's Grammar School) of the State of Jalisco.In 1893 Martínez received his doctorate degree in Guadalajara. During that same year he published a few verses in newspapers and magazines. Soon after receiving his degree, he was named adjunct professor of physiology at the School of Medicine. After two years of professional practice, he left his native city to go to Culiacán
Culiacán
Culiacán is a city in northwestern Mexico, the largest city in the state of Sinaloa as well as its capital and capital of the municipality of Culiacán. With 675,773 inhabitants in the city , and 858,638 in the municipality, it is the largest city in the state of Sinaloa...
, Sinaloa
Sinaloa
Sinaloa officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sinaloa is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 18 municipalities and its capital city is Culiacán Rosales....
. In this state his political ambitions began to develop; he became a political prefect in various areas of the state and Secretary General of government.
In 1903 Martínez's first book of poetry, Preludios, was published. With his third book, Silenter, he was received as a member of the Mexican Academy
Academia Mexicana de la Lengua
The Academia Mexicana de la Lengua is the correspondent academy in Mexico of the Royal Spanish Academy...
, moving to Mexico City where he became president of the youth Ateneo (1912), founded the literary magazine Argos (1912) and edited the daily newspaper El Imparcial.
In his political ambitions he assumed the position of Undersecretary of Public Education and Fine Arts in 1913. The following year he became secretary of government of the State of Puebla
Puebla
Puebla officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 217 municipalities and its capital city is Puebla....
; Professor of French Literature in the School of Higher Studies, head of Literature and Grammar classes, and professor of Mexican Literature in the National Preparatory School in the Federal District. In 1917, in the company of other great literary lights such as Ramon Lopez Velarde
Ramón López Velarde
Ramón López Velarde was aMexican poet. His work is generally considered to be postmodern, but is unique for its subject matter. He achieved great fame in his native land, to the point of being considered Mexico's national poet....
and Efrén Rebolledo, he directed Pegaso magazine.
Martínez entered the Mexican Foreign Service in 1920, occupying the position of plenipotentiary minister
Plenipotentiary
The word plenipotentiary has two meanings. As a noun, it refers to a person who has "full powers." In particular, the term commonly refers to a diplomat fully authorized to represent his government as a prerogative...
of Mexico in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
between the years 1920 and 1931. Later he returned to Mexico.
Late in 1942, Martínez entered the Seminary of Mexican Culture, and later in 1943, to the National School where he sustained conferences on diverse subjects of literary history. He was a member of the Mexican Academy of Language
Academia Mexicana de la Lengua
The Academia Mexicana de la Lengua is the correspondent academy in Mexico of the Royal Spanish Academy...
and the Altamirano Grammar School. In 1944 he received the Ávila Camacho National Prize of Literature and his Poesías Completas was published.
He died in Mexico City in 1952.
Work
Mexican Revolution LiteratureMexican Revolution Literature
There is a wide range of ways in which people have represented the Mexican Revolution in popular culture. One of the most influential pioneers in this new philosophy of Mexican identity was Samuel Ramos who acknowledged Ortega for his influence of emphasizing the understanding of man in his...
took note of Martínez's poem "Tuércele el cuello al cisne" (Wring the Neck of the Swan), written in 1910 and published 1911. In this poem he signifies his break with Modernist rhetoric by indicating his desire to replace the swan, a primordial Modernist symbol, with the owl. He was praised by author and poet Octavio Paz
Octavio Paz
Octavio Paz Lozano was a Mexican writer, poet, and diplomat, and the winner of the 1990 Nobel Prize for Literature.-Early life and writings:...
, who said of him, "Martínez was the only true modernist poet Mexico ever had."
External links
- Enrique González Martínez in Spanish
- Enrique González Martínez 1871–1952 Published in Encyclopedia of Mexico: History, Society & Culture (1997)