Realism

ENGL242A American Literature II

Terry Lass

13 Jun 2010

Realism

Realism is a movement; an artistic style that portrays reality as it is, not as people wish it were. It is the revelation that there are many unpleasant truths in life and those truths should be depicted in art and literature as they truly exist and in comprehensive detail. The intent of realism is to tell a story of ordinary, modern life that rejects idealism. "The Real thing" by Henry James and "The White Heron" by Sarah Orne Jewett are both good examples of Realism in literature.

In Realistic storylines, the characters are usually more important than the action or plot. Whatever is going on in the storyline isn't as important as what is going on within the character. The character is superior to the circumstance. In "The Real thing", James tells of the Monarch couple that shows up seeking work as models. James skillfully and dispassionately reveals the Monarch's pride, that was common among the elite, and dissects them for the reader to see what he sees in their character. Even though in the Monarch's eyes they were "The Real Thing", in reality they were delusional about their own importance.

Her figure had no variety of expression-she herself had no sense of variety. You may say this was my business and was only a question of placing her. Yet I placed her in every conceivable position and she managed to obliterate their differences. She was the real thing, but always the same thing. (James, 438)

In "The White Heron", Jewett 's character emphasis is on Sylvia, the child who is struggling with the request of the young man she meets in the forest. Jewett's character transforms from being a child, to

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realizing that she can make her own decisions and chooses to not reveal the location of the...