Final answer:
Debussy aimed to reject traditional harmony, distinguishing himself from Romantic-era composers who largely followed classical structures. He was drawn to Impressionism and early Modern music, seeking innovative ways to express musical ideas.
Step-by-step explanation:
Debussy's primary goal as a composer was to reject traditional harmony. Unlike his predecessors in the Romantic era who largely embraced the established musical structures while infusing them with a new intensity of emotion, Debussy is known for breaking away from these norms. While some Romantic composers, like Schubert and Brahms, took a conservative approach by adhering closely to classical structures, others pushed the boundaries. Debussy falls into a category of composers who sought new directions post-Romanticism.
The Romantic era itself was marked by a continuance of the classical forms but with heightened emotional expression. Composers such as Beethoven were revered, and their influence persisted. However, by the end of the century, a shift occurred. Composers like Debussy attracted to Impressionism and early Modern music, experimented with innovative harmonic progressions and timbres, moving away from the tonal stability that characterized the music of the past.