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).