William Dean Howells, Mark Twain, And Gustave Flaubert

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A strong response against romanticism and the burgeoning influence of rational philosophy prompted a literary movement which revealed life in its truest form. Realism, with its attention on the immediate situation and its consequence, spread throughout the world in the 19th century. Pivotal writers of the time such as William Dean Howells, Mark Twain, and Gustave Flaubert adapted the realism into their writing. They refrained from using the usual romantic take to writing in order to reveal a more realistic aspect of life. Realist writers believed in revealing the true nature of situations instead of romanticizing them. Through descriptions of everyday life, usually of the lower and middle class, realist writers portrayed life as it is for …show more content…

Emma’s lavish lifestyle results in her being in debt. Even though she knows she owes a lot of money, Emma still continues to spend and borrow more. She eventually becomes so engulfed in debt that she has to ask Leon and Rudolphe for money. They both refuse and Emma decides that taking her life is better than dealing with the repercussions of her actions. Flaubert includes this to show how the middle class splurged with money they did not have. Their desire to show their wealth by indulging in many luxuries results in them being indebted to a loan shark like Monsieur Lheureux, who take advantage of their situation. “I implore you, Monsieur Lheureux, just a few days more! She was sobbing. “What do I care?” said he (273). Lheureux demands payment from Emma even though he knows she doesn’t have it. He wants his money regardless of the strain it leaves on her. The situation and its consequence brings realism into the work. In their gluttonous quest to gain more, the middle class loses