From Romanticism to Realism American Literature from the Civil War to WWI

Where We’ve Been…

Cultural Context for American Realism Accelerating industrialism Accelerating industrialism Rapid growth of cities Rapid growth of cities Factory work Factory work Spirit of aggressive financial competition Spirit of aggressive financial competition Great disparity of wealth Great disparity of wealth Shifting social classes Shifting social classes

Cultural Context for American Realism New Scientific Paradigms: New Scientific Paradigms: - Darwin’s theory of biological evolution (1859) - Spencer’s theory of social evolution and “survival of the fittest”(1870s) - Marx’s theories of “historical materialism”: we can understand history by studying how people produce material objects (1840s, 50s, 60s, 70s)

Changing Culture Demanded a New Kind of Art and Literature Emphasis on accurate, truthful, “scientific” (?) description Emphasis on accurate, truthful, “scientific” (?) description Simple, clear, direct prose Simple, clear, direct prose One-to-one correspondence between subject and representation One-to-one correspondence between subject and representation “A truthful, objective and impartial observation of the real world, based on meticulous observation of contemporary life” “A truthful, objective and impartial observation of the real world, based on meticulous observation of contemporary life”

Realist Art: Gustave Courbet Stone-breakers (1849)

Realist Art: Ilya Repin They Did Not Expect Him (1884)

Realist Art: John Singer Sargent Lady Agnew of Lochnaw (1893)

Realist Literature Honore de Balzac in France Honore de Balzac in France Sequence of almost 100 novels and plays entitled, La Comédie humaine George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans) in England George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans) in England The Mill on the Floss, Silas Marner, Middlemarch Twain, Howells, James, etc. in America Twain, Howells, James, etc. in America

Characteristics of Literary Realism: “Truthful treatment of the material” Renders reality closely and in comprehensive detail Renders reality closely and in comprehensive detail Character is more important than action and plot; complex ethical choices are often the subject Character is more important than action and plot; complex ethical choices are often the subject Characters are psychologically complex, realistic Characters are psychologically complex, realistic Social class is important (the novel has traditionally served the interests and aspirations of an insurgent middle class) Social class is important (the novel has traditionally served the interests and aspirations of an insurgent middle class)

Characteristics of Literary Realism: “Truthful treatment of the material” Events will usually be plausible. Avoids the sensational plots of the romance. Events will usually be plausible. Avoids the sensational plots of the romance. Diction is natural vernacular, not heightened or poetic Diction is natural vernacular, not heightened or poetic Tone may be comic, satiric, or matter-of-fact Tone may be comic, satiric, or matter-of-fact Strives to present the narrative “objectively”: overt authorial comments or intrusions diminish Strives to present the narrative “objectively”: overt authorial comments or intrusions diminish

Questions About Realism It claims “transparency” but it is just as selective and filtered as any other art form… It claims “transparency” but it is just as selective and filtered as any other art form… Perhaps dangerous because it appears to be objective and transparent, but is not. Perhaps dangerous because it appears to be objective and transparent, but is not. Can it effectively represent the spiritual dimensions of human life? Can it effectively represent the spiritual dimensions of human life? Can it effectively engage the unconscious motivations of human life? Can it effectively engage the unconscious motivations of human life?

Realistic or Romantic?