Realism Importance in Literature and Life

The realist movement is an integral part of the evolution of literature and “it remains a force every writer must reckon with to this day.” (Diamond). The authors of this movement sought to uncover "nothing more and nothing less than the truthful treatment of material." (Barney and Paddock), by exposing the social and cultural issues that, up until this movement emerges, had been kept away from the public eye. This movement was not particularly favorable to the public at first in that it differs completely from the preceding romanticist movement. Before this accurate depiction of the everyday lives of the lower-class American is unveiled, the public was immersed in the fantasy world of how life ought to be with the romanticist movement. This change in genre did not hold over well with the public in that they did not want to accept responsibility for the cruel and unfairness the lower-class faced. Despite the unfavorable public, the stories depicted with realist views ultimately did shed some light and awareness on the social and cultural issues in America and sought ways in which to correct them. This fundamental movement paves the way for progress in changing the world as we know it.



Works Cited
Barney, Brett, and Lisa Paddock, eds. "realism." Encyclopedia of American Literature: The Age of Romanticism and Realism, 1816–1895, vol. 2, Revised Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= EAmL0738&SingleRecord=True (accessed December 4, 2009).

Diamond, Marie Josephine, ed. "realism." Encyclopedia of World Writers, 19th and 20th Centuries. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2003. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= GEWW480&SingleRecord=True (accessed December 4, 2009).

Upton Sinclair on Realism

On the more political side of realism is Upton Sinclair. Sinclair uses his writing abilities to give a voice to the average person by bringing attention to “the evils of capitalism and its effects on the major components of American life” (Werlock). One of Sinclair’s most prominent works, The Jungle (1906), exposes the harsh and disgusting working conditions surrounding the Chicago meat-packing industry that is forced upon the lower-class citizens. To gain research for The Jungle, Sinclair spends seven weeks in a Chicago’s Packingtown in order to observe the lives of its workers, therefore, all accounts mentioned in the book are based upon instances in which Sinclair witnesses first-hand. The effects these working conditions have on Americans is shocking: wage-slavery led to individuals having multiple jobs, many women are forced into prostitution, and children quit school to work and help support their families. The decadence due to injustice witnessed by Sinclair serves as inspiration for the book. "The worst of which was the ignorance of the victims themselves. With the exception of a very small minority, they had no idea that they had the right to a better way of life. It was moral, spiritual and physical degradation, a 'jungle' in which humans lived barely above the level of animals." (Pap and Karolides).

Some of the nauseating details The Jungle exposes include shoveling dead rats into sausage-grinding machines, how diseased cows are slaughtered for beef, and instances that a person would fall into a tank and be ground along with the meat. This sends Americans into an uproar. Even President Theodore Roosevelt is sickened by the horrific details and pushes to establish the Food and Drug Administration which is still in effect today. Although The Jungle changed the course of the meat-packing industry, this is not Upton Sinclair’s initial mission, "I aimed at the public's heart, and by accident I hit it in the stomach." (Werlock).


Works Cited
1. Werlock, Abby H. P., ed. "Sinclair, Upton." Facts On File Companion to the American Novel. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= CANov0818&SingleRecord=True (accessed December 1, 2009).
2. Pap, Laurie and Nicholas J. Karolides. "The Jungle." In Karolides, Nicholas J. Banned Books: Literature Suppressed on Political Grounds, Revised Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= BBP0111&SingleRecord=True (accessed December 1, 2009).

Image Citation: "Sinclair, Upton." Library of Congress. Prints and Photographs Division. George Grantham Bain Collection. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= CANov0818&SingleRecord=True (accessed December 1, 2009).

Kate Chopin in Realist Movement

Among the most influential writers during the Realist Movement was widowed writer Kate Chopin. Her literary work, which epitomizes realist literary technique, is filled with the powerful and truthful representation of human life and morality. This is extremely important because it exposes the truth about societal conditions and brings special attention to the restrictions and plights of ordinary human beings. Take for example her novel entitled, “The Awakening”, which in many ways serves as the antecedent for realism. It is openly filled with forthright sexual emotions and desires which were unheard of in literature at the time that she wrote it. The main character Edna perhaps best reflects the realist indulgence into real sexual matters, “And for the first time in her life she stood naked in the open air, at the mercy of the sun, the breeze that beat upon her, and the waves that invited her.” (Awakening, Page 127)There is also the presence of the real, strong, imposed limitations placed on the main character by society and by her family. The sociological and biological limitations of the main character being a married woman with kids certainly closes her options and greatly influences her conduct, whether she likes it or not. “The children appeared before her like antagonists who had overcome her; who had overpowered and sought to drag her into the soul’s slavery for the rest of her days.” (Awakening, Page 127).
Another example of realism in Chopin’s work is the familiar subject matter and common character descriptions that she incorporates into her work. Just like realism, she manages to show the real life, unexaggerated and unembellished events that dominate day to day life for many people. For example, in her novel “At Fault”, one of the main characters she writes about is Jack Dawson who is a middle aged, traveling salesman in the Southwest. There really is nothing phenomenal or outstanding in his ordinary life, in fact, he can even be thought of as a next door neighbor. But as with all realism literature, he finds heartbreak in the reality of his life when he discovers that his wife is having an adulterous relationship with another man, Bert Rodney. “It all came of those two vile wretches thinking Jack Dawson out of town when he wasn’t; for he was right there following them around in their perambulations. And the outcome is that Mr. Rodney has his beauty spoiled they say forever; the shot came very near being fatal.” (At Fault, Page 149)

Works Cited
1. Chopin, Kate. "The Awakening and Other Short Stories" 1st ed. Vol. 1. New York: Oxford UP, 2000. Print. Ser. 1. (Page 127).
2. Chopin, Kate. At Fault; a scholarly edition with background readings. 1st ed. Vol. 1. Knoxville: University of Tennessee, 2001. Print. Ser. 1. (Page 149).

Mark Twain on Realism

The realist movement emerged around the nineteenth century and exposed the true and sometimes harsh reality of everyday southern life. Most literature that focused on realism brought into light the social agendas and social class issues for the working middle-class that so many had turned the other way to. Realism was mainly a response to the preceding Romanticist movement, which depicted how life should be rather than life in actuality, based upon personal fantasies that are not always plausible. The realist movement is also a response to the rising interest in science and rationalism.

Mark Twain is a good example of a realist during this time period. His stories are centered around characters modeled from throughout his life and based upon actual events. For example Huckleberry Finn, one of Mark Twain's most famous stories, is a story about a young boy and the abuse he endures at the hands of his alcoholic father. The story exposes the social issues surrounding slavery and how a young boy looks beyond what society shows him is appropriate behavior towards a slave and begins to see this slave as more of a father figure and friend.


Works Cited:

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://drmyers.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/marktwainloc.jpg&imgrefurl=http://drmyers.wordpress.com/2009/05/03/political-match-game-stress-in-america/&usg=__QE8c9gUDVMYrMsWaDf3yW2nx4ac=&h=1319&w=1114&sz=195&hl=en&start=2&um=1&tbnid=Tdsn1uJH-lZzDM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=127&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmark%2Btwain%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1R2ADFA_enUS343%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1

Giles, James R. "realism." In Anderson, George P., Judith S. Baughman, Matthew J. Bruccoli, and Carl Rollyson, eds. Encyclopedia of American Literature, Revised Edition: Into the Modern: 1896–1945, Volume 3. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= EAmL1326&SingleRecord=True (accessed November 12, 2009).

Quinn, Edward. "realism." A Dictionary of Literary and Thematic Terms, Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= Gfflithem0706&SingleRecord=True (accessed November 12, 2009).

Quinn, Edward. "realism and naturalism in American literature." A Dictionary of Literary and Thematic Terms, Second Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2006. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= Gfflithem0707&SingleRecord=True (accessed November 12, 2009).

Introduction to Realism Movement in American Literature

In order to gain a fuller understanding of the American transformations of literature, it is essential to first explore and comprehend one of the most important literary movements known as the Realist Movement. This movement which includes many of America’s most influential authors such as Mark Twain, Kate Chopin, and Upton Sinclair help to explain the evolution of literary processes as they unraveled throughout the nineteenth century. As a crucial part of America’s history, the study of the subject can also expand ones knowledge on the many social, cultural, and generational perspectives of the times. We will learn that the rise of realism in literature cannot be minimized to simply a literary tactic, but we will see instead that it was a way of life which completely dominated the nation’s atmosphere. It was a way of life that stood in very sharp contrast to the preceding literary movements such as the Romantic Movement. Unlike the Romantics, the realist’s loyal reporting on the grim reality of everyday life caused a deep schism from the traditional standards of literature. As we utilize all of this information, we can gain a richer experience in all of our readings.