“Realism is a departure from idealism and emotion of Romanticism”. Explain.

 Realism is a departure from idealism and emotion of Romanticism. Ideas of romanticism were thought not rooted in the real world. Realism in a way began as a reaction to romanticism and the rise of the bourgeoisie in Europe. Realists were influenced by the spread of democracy in Europe and ordinary life became their subject. Middle and lower class people gained more importance in their ideas. Second half of nineteenth century is considered the beginning of realism in literature and arts. Hobsbawm wrote, “Realism is the term which has come most naturally to the lips of contemporary and later observers about this period, at all events when dealing with literature and the visual arts…It implies the attempt to describe, to represent, or at all events to find a precise equivalent, of facts,images, ideas, sentiments, passions…”(E. J. Hobsbawm, The Age of Capital 1848-1875, p.339). New material culture, social problems and the spirit of resistance stimulated the growth of realism. Literary realism attempts to tell a story as truthfully as possible in stead of dramatizing or romanticizing it. Realism in literature was part of a wider movement in culture to focus on ordinary people and events beyond the romanticized world. Realist writers tried to depict the contrast in the lives of the poor and the aristocrats both in urban and rural settings. When we look back to European history since mid-nineteenth century we find that this was the period marked by the end of series of revolutions in 1848, rise of Napoleon III in France, Bismarck in Germany, emergence of movements for nationstates, expansion of imperialism and colonialism, population upsurge in urban centres following industrialization, oppressive working and living condition of the urban poor, etc. This historical reality got reflected in the writings and many novels written in the second half of nineteenth century portrayed this reality. It is said that literary realism started from France and novels written by Balzac and Flaubert demonstrated social reality. Honore de Balzac is credited for starting realism in French literature and influenced other European writers. In his famous literary series La Comedie Humaine (The Human Comedy) he provided a sweeping portrayal of French society and also little details of individual life. He tried to capture the variety of life in France in the mid 19th century. In his literary works he focussed on different strata of French society- from noblemen to peasants, artists to businessmen, Churchmen to prostitutes. Let me reproduce few words of a character from The Human Comedy.

“You grow used to seeing evil done, to letting it go; you begin by not minding, you end by doing it yourself. In the end, your soul, spotted daily by shameful transactions always going on, shrinks, the spring of noble thoughts rusts, the hinges of small talk wear loose and swing unaided”.

After Balzac, another leading exponent of literary realism in France was Gustave Flaubert. He is known for his acclaimed novel Madame Bovary. He was a critic of the new middle class comprising of merchants and capitalists and their sense of morality. In the novel he dealt with themes like marriage and adultery and after the publication of his novel Madame Bovary he drew criticism for violation of public morals.

Charles Dickens, the greatest realist of English literature, devoted his writing skill to represent the social world, habits and customs of the poor people. He was against oppression, injustice, hypocracy and expressed his love for humanity. David Copperfield and Oliver Twist, great novels of Dickens represent his social concern and an indictment of the whole system. Dickens was a fierce critic of poverty and stratification of society and in his writings there was a growing concern for social reform. Oliver Twist, published in 1839, giving details of poverty and crime challenged middle class attitudes towards criminals. Through his work he talked about the poor and oppressed in society. In Oliver Twist Dickens portrays the character of a boy who possessed good values which were not subverted in the company of pickpocketers. David Copperfield, published in 1850, is an autobiographical novel talking about his journey of life and various stages of development he encountered with in his life. Dickens drew attention of readers to many aspects of social life like rigid class structure, status of women in marriage, child labour, schooling for children, etc. which personally he wished to change. George Eliot, the pen name of Mary Ann Evans, was another major novelist who witnessed the transformation of the countryside as a result of industrialization very closely. Her important works include Adam Bede, Romola, Daniel Deronda and masterpiece Middlemarch. She used the male name to disguise her identity and also to conceal her social position which was considered not normal as being an unmarried woman she lived with a married man. In her novels one gets the pulse of small-town politics which was the fabric of English society. Her novels brilliantly talk about the limitations imposed on women by society. In her masterpiece, Middlemarch, we find the representation of country-life in England during the Victorian era. We learn about various social classes and their intricacies within a community life.

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