American Realism

Sometimes you just need to sit down, focus, and get real – or in this case, realist! Whichever way you spin it, realism is all about the here and now. It focuses on the reality of the situation the author is writing about. For the American realist, there's no sense in pretending and no point imagining the perfect world, where all problems magically disappear. Instead, the most important thing is to portray things as they actually are - no sugar-coating. It's complex characterisation, psychological dilemmas and social critique at its best, so let's dive into the movement to learn more about how it came about.

Realism movement

Realism portrays things truthfully and remains faithful to the real world. Works of realism often intertwine descriptions of everyday activity with concerns about the impact of war, politics and the brutal forces of nature. Rather than whisk the reader away to an exotic location in the past or future, realist authors focus on their present day, attempting to represent the acute struggles of men and women as they happen in the real world.

The movement arose as a rejection of the romantic movement that preceded it. Whereas the romantics celebrated spontaneous thought, emotions, and expressiveness, realists sought to depict the problems that ordinary men and women faced in daily life.

Literary realism originated as part of a broader art movement in France in the mid-eighteenth century, where artists attempted to depict their subject matter realistically in response to the prevalence of romanticist art throughout the early eighteenth century. This was mirrored in French literature when authors like Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880) and Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850) produced works with intricate characterisation, dialogue, and observations about French society. The movement then spread to Europe, Australia and the United States of America.

History of American realism

Some examples of what can now be termed 'realism' could be seen in American literature from as early as the 1830s, such as in Augustus Baldwin Longstreet's Georgia Scenes (1835), which aimed to capture what Longstreet remembered from his time in Georgia authentically. However, the movement was popularised toward the end of the American Civil War in 1865, and lasted into the twentieth century.

The Civil War was devastating to America. It challenged people's sentimentalism and optimism, the driving forces behind the romantic movement. After the pain of war, romanticism felt fake, like it was offering a glimpse into an ideal world that didn't exist.

Industrialisation, increasing literacy rates and expanding populations were all contributing to a society that was always evolving. This led to an increased demand for literature that authentically dealt with the rapid cultural change occurring day to day in the United States. Authors, therefore, began to depict real people in real situations, reacting to the often challenging events happening in the world around them.

William Dean Howells (1837-1920) was the first author to be credited as wholly 'realist' and is considered the father of American realism. His work revolved around middle and upper-class life, and featured a truthfulness that brought close attention to societal problems.

Other early, influential American realists include Samuel Clemens (better known by his pen name, Mark Twain (1835-1910)), Henry James (1843-1916) and Stephen Crane (1871-1900). Mark Twain was famed for his realistic, colloquial dialogue that provided America with a new way to define its national voice.

American realism: Characteristics

Let's look more closely at some of the defining characteristics of American realist literature.

Attention to detail

The most important aspect of American realism is that it depicts reality with close attention to detail. It is essential that the events occurring will appear plausible when compared to their time and setting. The realist writer avoids the sentimental, overly emotional prose favoured by romanticism.

The realist author would design a character's social class, way of thinking, and way of speaking based on the part of the United States in which the novel is set. This complex, authentic characterisation was fundamental to creating literary realism.

Characterisation

The characters are more important than the plot in realist literature. Much of a realist novel is often consumed by a character tackling complex moral issues and dealing with personal struggles related to broader social and political difficulties like war and government.

Social Criticism

Many American realist writers were interested in critiquing the conditions of their societies. Authors aimed to depict the acts of racism, prejudice, or social injustice common to their time.

Specific focus was often placed on the experience of the lower classes, who were vital to the strength of the country, but lived in terrible conditions and were frequently treated poorly.

American realism: examples

Let's explore some prominent examples of American realism.

William Dean Howells - The Rise of Silas Lapham (1885)

The Rise of Silas Lapham follows Silas, a man chasing materialistic goals and values. He attains good fortune, but through his greedy mistakes, he falls from grace, losing his business and livelihood. Silas must begin a journey to think of others instead of himself, and better himself morally. Howells presents realistic characters in the novel, showing their individual flaws and strengths and commenting on societal issues in the process.

Mark Twain - The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884)

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is likely the most famous work of American realist fiction of all time. The novel recounts Huckleberry Finn's escape from an abusive father, before embarking on an adventure down the Mississippi river alongside Jim, an escapee enslaved person.

Fig. 1 - Mark Twain is a notable realist writer.

Twain's novel is the perfect example of literary realism. He creates a narrative authentic to the time and writes with colloquial dialect representative of the region. The novel also tackles topics of slavery, morality and betrayal, while critiquing the romanticism of the American South.

Stephen Crane - The Red Badge of Courage (1895)

The Red Badge of Courage sought to reveal what life was like on the battlefield during the American Civil War. It follows one soldier's experience and illuminates the harsh conditions he is made to endure. It also brings attention to the psychological struggles associated with war.

In creating his novel, Crane brought attention to a significantly underrepresented area in American literature and encouraged other writers to depict the realities of war, as they were, without patriotism.

Other examples of American realism

Here's a list of other realist novels for further reading!