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William Dean Howells Literary Realism

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The Literary Realism of William Dean Howells and Mark Twain

The Civil War was an eventful time for the World, and the root for many transitions in the Unites States. Not only were new innovations like weapon machinery, and movements such as Women’s Suffrage, and Prohibition causing American conversation, but the literary realism of writers such as Mark Twain and William Dean Howells. With similar backgrounds and realistic views on the post civil war these two notable writers made readers feel like their stories were relatable and personable. Literary Realism is stories that were created to assimilate to the American way of life post civil war. “ The term realism refers to a movement in English gathered from the 1830’s to the end of the century”. …show more content…

He believes the war brings pain, death, and stress on family. He believes that no positive notion is gained from being in the war because of personal family experiences. George’s father lost his arm during the war ands this molded his mind into entering the war. His mother felt that women give up their spouses to war expecting them to return unharmed, but in here defense, that wasn’t always the case. "Kill someone else kill the sons of those miserable mothers and husbands of those girls”. George realism is symbolized by his death and his family views. Editha, was selfish in a sense and cared about herself. She thought about choices that could fulfill her own happiness. In the story of Editha, Howells shed a huge light on post and pre war realism. He connected with families of this time period by connecting the fear of loss, romanticism of relationships, and personal family experiences.

Moreover, in the article, “ What happened to civil war solders after the war”? The author stated that most soldiers tried to gather pieces of their family that was broken going in to the war. Some solder’s didn’t have families or lovers to come back to because they simply moved on. James S. Dupray served honorably with the 12th Iowa Volunteer Regiment, he returned home to “find neither wife or children to greet me.” Also, some soldiers were almost unrecognizable coming back from war. The reason for that was because boys were inducted into the civil war and came back

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Finally, the novel presents realism in that the residents of the town are less aware of technology than we are today. When Wilson shows the townspeople fingerprints and proves Chambers and Tom were switched, the people are shocked, as seen in “Stunned, distraught, unconscious of its own movement, the house half rose, as if expecting to see the murderer appear at the door, and a breeze of muttered ejaculations swept the place.” (Twain, 116). In this quote, we see that the people of the time didn't really have the technology that we have today, which is realistic and expected.

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Men who have been up as often as we have become thick-skinned. Only the young recruits are agitated” (53). The men who have endured the war thus far and have succumbed a death that possibly awaits them have become stalwart. The inexperienced soldiers are flustered at how disturbing the war is. War changes your sensitivity.

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In Soldier from the War Returning, Thomas Childers writes that “a curious silence lingers over what for many was the last great battle of the war.” This final battle was the soldier’s return home. After World War II, veterans came back to the United States and struggled with stigmatized mental illnesses as well as financial and social issues. During the war, many soldiers struggled with mental health issues that persisted after they came home.

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Student’s Name Mrs. Gore English 3 11/02/17 Women’s Rights in Society Realism writing was used by many authors in the 1800s to describe how life was for different races, genders, and social classes. Realism writing expressed the difficulties that faced many different people during this time period. Many authors used realism writing as an outlet and a way to express their thoughts and beliefs about topics that were too personal for the average person.

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The nineteenth century was a breeding ground for many literary movements, including realism, romanticism and naturalism. Realism consists of literature that is consistent, predictable, and sticks to the “simple truth” of how regular people live and talk. Romanticism is literature that contains things of intellect, strangeness and remoteness and tries to make the familiar unfamiliar. Finally, naturalism is literature that has regular people in extraordinary circumstances; the hero is at the mercy of larger social and natural forces, which are cruelly indifferent; traces of social Darwinism can be found in the literature and there is generally a brutal struggle for survival. Realism can be seen in The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman,

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These thoughts and feelings towards the soldiers further support how his character is selfish. He respects these soldiers even though they have ruined the lives of many people. He respects them because of their actions and how they handle themselves. He believes they always do the right thing, meaning they have power. He admires this about them and respects them because they are on the winning, or more powerful side, which he compares to the power of his country that he resents.

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There are many modern novelists that were and still are affected by the Realist movement. One of these authors is S. E. Hilton, she wrote almost all of her novels in a Realist style. This essay will discuss her style of writing and how it affected the Realist movement. So lets start at the beginning. The realist movement was a famous movement from 1865-1900 that featured more realistic literature.

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During the Civil War the whole country was changing. Many able men were being sent off to fight a war that no one knew would last as long as it did, and fighting in neighboring states against fellow U.S. citizens, friends, and even relatives. Relations between the North and the South were as hostile as ever and divided, but the lives of the men and soldiers were not the only thing changing. The Civil War greatly affected the roles and duties of women and children. Women and children in the North and South had to take on the roles, responsibilities, and jobs of the men who were away fighting.

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Editha was ignorance who thought war is good and romantic. When her fiancé George told her there was a war, she replied “How glorious!” She had no idea of the consequence of a war. Furthermore, she was egotism and selfish as the author wrote: “by any word or act, to take the part that her whole soul willed him to take, for the completion of her ideal of him”. Therefore, it’s hard to tell whether she loves George or not.

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His character reminds me of Rip Van Winkle’s obedience to circumstances, but in case of Geason, obedience to someone’s ideas. His death is an obvious end of the person, who has no own ideas and “targets.” At the same time, Mrs. Gearson clearly (realistic) sees all the pluses and minuses of war and the Romanticism of Editha. This realistic views came to Mrs. Geason from her life experience.

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George is uncertain about the reason for war and does not see it as the honor that Editha does. He shows this by stating, “But war! , Is it glorious to break the peace of the world” (p.290). For George, joining a war in which he does not fully believe in does not bring him honor but rather uncertainty. When analyzing Howells’ “Novel-Writing and Novel- Reading”, Howell criticizes writers who produce fiction, because he believes that truth is beauty.

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