An Overview of American Realism
Time Period: Roughly 1865–1914 (Post-Civil War to early 20th century)
Historical Context:
American Realism emerged after the Civil War (1861–1865), a period marked by industrialization, urbanization, and social upheaval. Writers sought to move away from Romanticism’s idealism and instead depict life with greater accuracy, focusing on ordinary people and everyday struggles.
Key Characteristics:
Rejection of Romanticism – Unlike the idealized heroes and exotic settings of Romantic literature, Realism emphasized ordinary life, often highlighting the struggles of the middle and lower classes.
Detailed, Objective Narration – Writers used precise descriptions and avoided excessive sentimentality or moralizing.
Focus on Social Issues – Themes included class conflict, economic inequality, racial tensions, and the changing roles of women.
Complex Characters – Characters were often morally ambiguous, shaped by their environment rather than purely heroic or villainous.
Regionalism (Local Color) – Some writers focused on specific regions, capturing dialects, customs, and landscapes (e.g., Mark Twain’s Mississippi, Sarah Orne Jewett’s New England).
Major Authors & Works:
Mark Twain (The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, 1885) – Used vernacular speech and critiqued racism and hypocrisy.
William Dean Howells (The Rise of Silas Lapham, 1885) – Explored moral dilemmas in a rapidly industrializing America.
Henry James (The Portrait of a Lady, 1881) – Focused on psychological realism and the inner lives of characters.
Edith Wharton (The House of Mirth, 1905) – Examined high society and gender constraints.
Stephen Crane (Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, 1893) – Naturalist tendencies, depicting harsh urban realities.
Kate Chopin (The Awakening, 1899) – Challenged gender norms with a focus on female autonomy.
Transition to Naturalism:
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, some Realist writers adopted Naturalism, which took a more deterministic view of human life, suggesting that people were shaped by heredity, environment, and social forces beyond their control (e.g., Theodore Dreiser’s Sister Carrie).
Legacy:
American Realism laid the groundwork for modernist literature by prioritizing authenticity and social critique. Its influence can be seen in later works by authors like John Steinbeck and Richard Wright.
