The Rise of Realism 1850-1900

Historical Background Population 42 million: Immigration now from eastern Europe, Russia, Scandinavian countries Chicago 1850-20,000; 1910 – 2 million

Unresolved challenges: Civil War and growth of industry (slums and labor unrest) and farm problems Reconstruction-readmit the Southern States to the union; farmland, factories destroyed African Americans gain citizenship and equal protection and right to vote These changes were captured in customs, characters and landscapes known as regionalism

Transportation: Key to settlement, shapes subject matter and attitudes of writers;

1869 Transcontinental Railroad completed and brought a flood of new settlers west. By 1890 government closed the frontier.

The Trust Giant's Point of View The Gilded Age As the 1800s drew to an end, a very small group of men controlled the vast majority of industry, including steel, railroad, oil and meatpacking. Industry’s success created a better life for many Americans. For a few, it brought wealth, but others suffered poverty & hardship. The Gilded Age The Have-Nots Laissez Faire vs. Progressivism The Trust Giant's Point of View

Palatial mansions Wives and daughters draped in diamonds sandbox filled with jewels Now could go to a department store, order from a catalog and use the telephone

Social Darwinist-survival of the fittest-claim that those who rose to the top of society were fit, while those who suffered at the bottom were best left to die. Social Darwinists used these ideas to justify the huge gap between rich and poor and to push for laissez fair (allowed to do)

Populist Party-movement to make government more responsive to workers’ needs (union, farmers) Progressive movement emerged, which aimed to restore economic opportunities and correct injustices in American life. They believed that social change was possible and necessary and it was the job of the government to make laws to protect people.

Failures of Reconstruction left many poor and powerless, held down by segregationist Jim Crow laws and forced to work as sharecroppers--Hope for a better life. .

Settling of land forced Native Americans off their land and onto reservations- took children and sent to Indian schools. Demanded forget their language.

and Naturalism in Literature Realism, Regionalism, and Naturalism in Literature The country’s rapid growth and change was reflected in new area of writing-takes the place of Romanticism

Portrays ordinary life as real people live it. Attempts to show characters and events in an objective, almost factual way.

Shows experiences of Civil War

Portrays frontier life.

Versions of life on frontier captured imagination of readers in more settled communities-mining camps, cattle ranches and frontier towns. New regionalist literature satisfied curiosity of portrayals of people and way of life in different areas of the country

Portrays problems with cities, slums, and labor Portrays problems with cities, slums, and labor. Labor unions forming to help project people

Realism finds meaning in the commonplace-often working 16 hr days.

Realistic writers can deal honestly with characters that Romantic writers either avoided or glossed over such as factory workers, bosses, politicians and gunfighters; Circumstances influenced writers of the time to capture customs, characters, and landscapes of nation’s distinct regions-Regionalism.

Emphasis on specific geographic setting; can be sentimental/ unrealistic Regional dialect (speech/ manners)

Portrays vivid descriptions of landscapes Seeks to capture essence of life in various regions of growing nation Bret Harte was a founder of “local color”

Naturalism More than realism – naturalism shows the inescapable work through natural forces.

People have no control over events (writers tended to be pessimistic) Naturalists saw humans as helpless from forces beyond their control. Naturalist writer – Jack London captured arctic world outside of everyday experiences.

Naturalists popular and readers accepted the less than happy endings. Others showed the rich and influential in an unflattering light. Naturalism reflected time of rapid changes and sharp contrasts when wealth was concentrated in few hands.

Destiny is decided by: 1. heredity 2. environment 3. physical drives 4. economic circumstances

Works of Women- Charlotte Perkins Gilman Kate Chopin Edith Wharton Mary Wilkins Freeman Works by women of this period often end tragically, in madness, ruin, scandal, and death. Reflection of naturalist leanings and through own experience in a culture that did not encourage women’s artistic goals. Reflected society’s limitations. Broke barriers as roles shifted. Women’s suffrage reemerged; university education became more available.

and psychological situations. Psychological Novels Henry James looks at distinctions in character motivation. Portrays social and psychological situations.