A Thought About Realism

Realism, as taken from a professor's post on the Washington State University's website, is defined as "the faithful representation of reality."  The concept of realism is one that has been laid squarely (in American Literature) upon a specific time period when American authors were - simply put - being real.  It was the late 1800's.  The literary universe is still used to the romantics: authors that placed humans into a category of superhero's that hand strong moral standing.  These authors delved deep into the philosophical world.  They used long words and expressed big ideas.  They were on a "quest for beauty".

Unfortunately for the authors who were just beginning to express realism in their writing, the world wasn't ready for that reality.  The grim and mundane realities of life just are not good subjects for a piece of literature.  Literature should be enjoyed.  Literature should enforce good moral standings.  Literature shouldn't remind you of the kinds of things you have to live with day in and day out.  Who wants to read about the daily toil of a steel worker?  Who wants to read a passage that discusses two ladies discussing the weather?  Who want's to read about babies that cry?

The sad truth is, such dramatic transitions in culture just do not happen that immediately.  It was a sad truth indeed for Kate Chopin.  Her revolutionary style of writing, as penned in The Awakening, surprised and disappointed the literary world.  Critics could not handle such a drastic change - especially from a single author who was well equipped at writing good, clean fluff.  The Awakening was nearly pulled from the shelves.  Kate Chopin was derided as an author and her next work(s) in progress were scrapped by her publisher.  Kate Chopin, devastated by the reaction, simply puts...down...her...pen.

Years later, we find The Awakening heralded as a great piece of American Literature that helped usher in a new age - years later, when Kate Chopin is no longer around to hear people sing the praise.