19th-Century Realism & William Dean Howells

American Romance Early American writers tended to use romantic themes and styles: larger-than-life heroes; an emphasis on intense emotions rather than reason; mystery; exoticism; sublime encounters with primitive nature; and individual dignity. Examples: Washington Irving, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, James Fenimore Cooper, and Edgar Allan Poe Towards the later 19th century, especially after the Civil War ended, writers began to seek a more realistic type of fiction, one more in line with contemporary European styles, but also reflective of authentic American culture and character…

American Realism Characteristics: There is a selective presentation of reality with an emphasis on verisimilitude, even at the expense of a well- made plot. Character is more important than action and plot; complex ethical choices are often the subject. As a result, much of the action in realistic literature is internal action. Characters appear in their real complexity of temperament and motive; they are in explicable relation to nature, to each other, to their social class, to their own past. Diction is natural vernacular, not heightened or poetic—and often reflects a particular class or geographical dialect Objectivity in presentation becomes increasingly important: overt authorial comments or intrusions diminish as the century progresses. Truth and morality are often relative or impossible to determine.

Realism vs. Naturalism Focuses on the ordinary Focuses on the individual Explores individual ethical choice Ex: Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Henry James, Portrait of a Lady Edith Wharton, The House of Mirth Kate Chopin, The Awakening Rejects the ordinary, focusing on the fringes of society and experience—often include extreme or shocking events and/or material Not interested in the individual, but in larger human patterns and movements Rejects the power of human choice; humans are driven by biological and social forces beyond their control Ex: Stephen Crane, Maggie: A Girl of the Streets Theodore Dreiser, Sister Carrie Upton Sinclair, The Jungle Jack London, The Call of the Wild

William Dean Howells (1837-1920) Born in Ohio to the large family of a newspaper editor and printer; the family frequently moves around the state Though the family is not wealthy, Howells does grow up in a literary environment As a youth, works in his father’s newspaper as a “printer’s devil” and begins writing poetry Writes and translates foreign literary pieces for the Ohio State Journal Lives abroad as a diplomat during the Civil War; returns and settles in Massachusetts, mingling with major literary figures. Editor of The Atlantic Monthly, 1871-1881, before returning overseas for several years. Publishes his first novel in 1872; continues writing novels, poetry, and literary criticism until his death. He eventually produces more than 100 texts, including about 30 novels.

Howells: Influence and Legacy During his life, Howells becomes known as “the Dean of American Letters.” As a critic, he helped to establish the reputations of European realists, e.g. Ibsen, Tolstoy, and Zola. He worked to promote literary realism and the development of authentic, American themes/styles in the United States He helped improve the reputation of American literature, and supported authors such as Sarah Orne Jewett, Stephen Crane, and Emily Dickinson; Howells was also close friends with Mark Twain Howells was immensely famous and respected during his lifetime, but fell into near obscurity after his death. 20th century writers considered his style too “genteel”

The Rise of Silas Lapham (1885) Howells lived in Boston for many years; also, though he started work on the novel while overseas, he finished writing it back in Boston. The book was originally published serially between October 1884 and May 1885—then almost immediately published in book form. The Rise of Silas Lapham is the first significant American novel to focus on a businessman. From the mid-1880s, Howells’ texts became more and more concerned with confronting America’s social and economic problems. The Rise of Silas Lapham is generally considered Howells’ masterpiece, and remains his most widely-read novel.

Howells on Realism Howells urged people to prize the real, as opposed to the ideal: "I hope the time is coming when not only the artist, but the common, average man, who always 'has the standard of the arts in his power,' will have also the courage to apply it, and will reject the ideal grasshopper wherever he finds it, in science, in literature, in art, because it is not 'simple, natural, and honest,' because it is not like a real grasshopper. But I will own that I think the time is yet far off, and that the people who have been brought up on the ideal grasshopper, the heroic grasshopper, the impassioned grasshopper, the self-devoted, adventureful, good old romantic card-board grasshopper, must die out before the simple, honest, and natural grasshopper can have a fair field."

Study Questions In what ways do the various characters compare/contrast with one another—in relation to both personality and social class? How does Howells use characterization to help create meaning in his text? What types of humor do various characters display? How does the text treat humor in relation to both class and gender? What is the “rise” of Silas Lapham—and how does Howells play upon this concept in various ways throughout the text? How do various aspects of the story reflect Howells’ desire for literary realism? How do various conventions of realism and romance surface in the story? What roles do they play, and what does Howells seem to suggest about these different ways of viewing or depicting the world? How do the individuals in this text relate to both their families and society? How does Howells depict the place of the individual within both family and community?