American literature realism Essay

In Ameri croupe literature realism, is an approach that attempts to describe life without idealization or wild-eyed subjectivity. Realism has been mainly concerned with the commonplaces of everyday life among the middle and lower classes, where character is a product of social factors and environment is the historic element in the dramatic complications.The realism sought to explain why ordinary people be imbibe they way they do. What, for manikin, fuels the ambitions of a young man who has come from the country to the city to make his fortune? Why does an app atomic number 18ntly happily married woman decide to have a love affair? What leads a woman to acquiesce or reject a particular man? In trying to answer these questions, realistic mythists often relied on the emerging sciences of human and animal expressionbiology, psychology, and sociologyas well as on their own insights and observations.Realism from 1865 to the present has changed. As authors have moved into a global w orld, their writing has become slight regional and therefore less realistic. Writers today do research instead of writing about what they already know about. As the world has become much global, authors have become more full. To a certain extent, realism is about presenting a limited view beca utilise is very much about regionalism. An author raft only write realistically about what he/she knows.Authors like Mark Twain and F. Scott Fitzgerald gives a express it like it is writing in the stories. In the clean The Adventures of huckleberry Finn, the setting has a large influence on huckabacks character. The purpose of time that Huck lived in was a distinct era. The country was changing rapidly. During this period steam engines enabled rivers to be used as mass transportation, an idea that had never been explored until now.There were many traits of this era that can be seen by expression at the components of Hucks character, his language, actions and ideals. Some of these tra its are subtle and can be easily missed but others are very obvious and powerful. This period of change was the setting of Hucks childhood. One trait that is indicative of the era is the social class of Huck and Huckslanguage. It is greatly touched by his social class and setting. The broken English is a sign of Hucks low social class. In addition it as well shows that he is from a southern river town. This can be seen from his expressions and accent.The rules of the time that Hucks character is governed upon, Huck was never educated. During the early 1800s there was no law that essential children to go to school, therefore his low intellect has a strong impact on Hucks character. It gives him a plain and simple outlook on life, this trait can been seen throughout the book in Hucks character. One specific area it affects is Hucks plans for his future. Huck only thought about what he was going to do for present. Huck had an incapable father. He was thought of as the town drunk, an d would often come home intoxicated and roast Huck. At one point his father locked Huck up in a small room without food or water for days.The setting is important here because if Hucks father were to treat his son in an abusive manner today, he would lose custody of his child. A steady-going example of Hucks unloving relationship was Hucks reaction to his fathers death. When notified of his death he was relieved and felt safe. This detail can be used to illustrate the abuse that Huck went through in the beginning of the book, while living with his father. Since Hucks father had irresponsible actions, Huck ran away at a young age in the hope that someday he would find freedom from his father and society.Hucks dissolution from his father is also the reason for his freethinking, responsibility and innocence. These times of hardship formed him into a mature person and helped contribute to his in pendant personality. Without the influence of the setting Huck would have never been able to achieve the freedom that he had by being independent. When Huck ran away he joined up with Jim, who was also tally away, but from something different. Jim was fleeing from slavery, a common practice of the time.Hucks relationship with Jim contributed to Hucks non-prejudice thinking. Another factor that gave Huck an understanding of how the slaves must have felt was the prejudice that he experienced himself, being part of the lower class. Huckwas infuriated when people looked downhearted upon him for something that was no fault of his he was born(p) into the class because of his fathers social status. For these reasons Huck always treated Jim as an equal, making Huck ahead of his time. Jim knew that Huck respected him, as a result Jim risked his own life to save Huck.In the story you find supposition with Hucks character. In real life you have humor being part of life. For example, Hucks account of his reasons for participating in what he knows to be the ridiculous schemes of gobbler Sawyers gang. He recognizes that their swords are only lath and broom-sticks and he does not believe, in any case, that they could lick such crowd of Spaniards and A-rabs. At one point one finds that Huck take cares to accept Toms values. Before boarding the Walter Scott he says Do you reckon, he asks Jim, rhetorically, Tom Sawyer would ever go by this thing? It is here at the Phelps farm, where he even takes Toms name.Hucks independence and lack of education resulted in a mind that was never influenced by adults beliefs. This allowed Huck to have thoughts based on what he believed in, not traditions that are simply carried on by messengers of the pasts beliefs. Although traditions are often good they prevent new ideas from entering peoples minds. This made Huck original this individuality could be seen with his relationship with Jim. During this period of American history slaves were looked down upon, but Huck, being an independent thinker, looked up to Jim for who he wa s, not for the color of his skin.This change in dialogue clearly illustrates how the relationship grew stronger during their adventures. By the end of the original Huck risked his own life to free Jim in the final escape attempt. His dependence made him loyal to the Mississippi River. The personification of the river that Huck uses clearly shows his feelings and appreciativeness to the river. It also helped show how important the river was too not only Huck but to all of the river towns and people.The Great Gatsbys best qualities is Fitzgeralds incredible use of realism. This realism is evident in the divulgement of plot, setting, and characters throughout the novel. The novel is well known for its deeply dragd plotsand sub-plots. At first Fitzgerald used realism to develop these plots by choosing plots that would be believable to lecturers.For example, the main plot of The American Dream (Jay Gatsbys dream of becoming rich and successful in order to come to Daisy) is easily be lievable and is still a quite common dream today. Smaller plots, such as Tom Buchanans affair with Myrtle, are also very realistic and are a common occurrence in every day life. From here Fitzgerald deepened the story by using realism to entangle these plots. Fitzgerald then grew upon these plots by making them all have realistic outcomes (such as Gatsbys demise), rather than your typical story book endings.Fitzgerald uses realism to clearly report the setting of the Great Gatsby. This use of realism could be mostly due to the fact that Fitzgerald lived during the time of the novel, and by using great detail, he was able to retch his interpretation of the 1920s. The novel takes place during the summer in New York as Nick Carraway has just moved to pursue a career in the mystify business. This is a very realistic setting because just after World War 1 the eastern United States were flourishing with people and business. Large, fancy homes and long parties (such as Gatsbys) were al so quite popular.Fitzgerald realistically demonstrates the inexistence of the middle class at that time. For example the contrast between Tom Buchanan and Mr. Wilson shows vast difference between the amphetamine and lower classes. The exact geographical location of the novel does not exist, but Fitzgerald does a great job in using realism to convince the reader of the setting. No matter how significant realism is to the setting of the novel, perhaps the most important use of realism comes through Fitzgeralds development of characters throughout the novel.The novel characters are the basis of the novel from which the plots revolve around. Fitzgerald uses realism to ensure that all the characters in the novel are believable in both their history and interactions with to each one other. A prime example of this would be Daisy. Her history of having a successful family, and being the center of attention deeply influences her character into being self-centered and dependent on wealth, ma king her characterbelievable to readers. From here Fitzgerald was able to manipulate the characters.This convinces the reader of truely of each individual and therefore makes the whole story seem more realistic. Throughout the novel, the plot was deepened through the entangling of many realistic sub-plots, the setting was clearly illustrated using plenty of detail, and the characters were developed to be as believable and genuine as possible. In the end it is the realistic recognition of lifes imperfections that give The Great Gatsby its continuing appeal.The things that happen are real and could really happen. The characters are products of their environments. In todays society we have somewhat the same issues. It depends on ones culture and beliefs. If you are pretty much conservative one finds that playing a certain way, wanting freedom, lying or dishonesty wont be acceptable. The two novels that I chose both show realism tell it like it is but in different ways. What happens t o Huck Finn is a result of how and where he lives. Events happen to him because of the real life setting and place. The central figure in Huck Finn isnt even really Huckits the river. Gatsby is shaped by external factors such as love, money and other peoples ideals.Nothing that happens is glorified or exaggerated. In my opinion I think that Twain and Fitzgerald both conveyed in reality. Both authors wrote there stories based upon the social restrictions of time. at present we see the same kind of American dream and look down upon the lower class. I think that we moved closer to the truth by eyesight what society be really about. This is somewhat the real world and its either your accepted by following the rules or not accepted by disobeying the rules.