Running head: LITERATURE AND SOCIAL REALITY Literature and Social Reality Hildaura Vence University of Phoenix ENG – 492 1 LITERATURE AND SOCIAL REALITY 2 Literature and Social Reality After the Civil War, during the time period between 1865 and 1912, America as a whole was largely transformed. The aftermath of the war led to a great awakening and immense change as a result of several factors such as dramatic population growth due to immigration, expansion westward due to the railroads, and technological developments due to industrialization. “Nothing like this explosive population and industrial growth had been experienced anywhere else in the world, and in many respects the rapidity of change in every aspect of life was as bewildering to writers as it was to other citizens” (American Literature, n.d.). Social Forces Shaping Literature Before the civil war American society comprised of rural farmers, small villages and self-sufficient citizens. Towards the end of this time period the country was an industrialized urban nation dealing with the effects of social and cultural changes. These social and cultural changes occurred mainly as a result of diverse groups of people settling in America. There was an influx of large numbers of immigrants who filled cities and provided cheap labor for growing monopolies. The ethnic and social mapping of these cities was revamped as several diverse groups of people now shared the same space. Growing cities were home to people of different races, creeds, and social statuses. These social forces, stemming from the growing cultural melting pot in urban industrial cities, affected the development of a new type of national literature that reflected great variety. After the Civil War, the idea of the optimistic romantic America disappeared. The cost of the war both in dollars and lives lost was immense. What emerged in the LITERATURE AND SOCIAL REALITY 3 following decade was a literature that focused on a real unembellished view of the world instead of imagined or fantastic ideas. There were two main literary movements that took over in America at this time - Realism and Naturalism. Major Literary Movements of the Period Realism focused on ordinary characters’ regular everyday life situations. Naturalism, like realism, depicts real people in real situations. However, it also believes in forces greater than the character such as fate, heredity, and nature (Par, 2018). Naturalists believe that forces such as these shape people and their destiny. They often include themes of violence, determination, and survival in their writing (Luebering, 2019). Although realism and naturalism differ slightly, they both depict the life of the common American citizen. These new literary movements helped people living in American at the time cope with the realization that life would not always be as optimistic as the Romantic era portrayed it to be. Realism and Naturalism - Influence on Literature Realism and naturalism influenced the literature of the period by giving new perspectives to readers and an authentic voice to the voiceless. Writers of this time “… introduced as major characters in fiction industrial workers and the rural poor, ambitious business leaders and vagrants, prostitutes and unheroic soldiers” (American Literature, n.d., p.3). One such realist author, who told the stories of these everyday people was Samuel Clemens. He went by the pen name Mark Twain and used the vernacular of real people as inspiration in his writing. He clearly represented the spirit of post war America with his classics Life on the Mississippi, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and his satire of robber barons, The LITERATURE AND SOCIAL REALITY 4 Guided Ages. His stories show diversity in his characters as well as the side effects of industrialization. Another realist, Steven Crane told simple stories of regular people. His works include The Red Badge of Courage about a Civil War recruit, Maggie: A girl of the Streets about an immigrant, and An Episode of War, which shows examples of both realism and naturalism. This story though primarily realist also has naturalist elements. For example, the part when the mud slows down the main character’s medical treatment shows how the forces of nature can influence the events in a character’s life. Theodore Dreiser’s His Sister Carrie and Mary Chesnut’s Civil War are other examples of naturalism. In Mary Chesnut’s Civil War she described real people and events (realism) but she also includes praying to God and asking for her husband to be kept safe (naturalism). Realism and Naturalism - Response to Social Forces Realism and naturalism responded to the social forces of immigration and cultural diversity in different ways. One way is by creating opportunities for women and ethnic writers . “Women from all social groups, African Americans, Native Americans, ethnic minorities, immigrants: all began to write for publication, and a rapidly burgeoning market for printed work helped establish authorship as a possible career as literacy rates reached unprecedented levels” (American Literature, n.d., p.3). These new literary styles allowed for different perspectives to be heard beside that of the dominant white male voice. There was also an undercurrent of developing feminism throughout this period as women were given creative literary freedom. Another way in which realism and naturalism responded to the social forces of immigration and cultural diversity is by 5 LITERATURE AND SOCIAL REALITY introducing stories that depict the realities of urban life, war, and capitalism. Conclusion Realism and Naturalism developed as opponents to Romanticism. The devastation of the Civil War made Americans wake up and realize that real life was hard and cruel. Immigration, crowded cities, low paying jobs, and expansion into the West were difficult forces to deal with. As a result, people became increasingly pessimistic. Realism and naturalism showcased the cold hard facts that ordinary people of this era faced. Thus the literary movements and themes between the years 1865 and 1912 show the harsh realities that Americans during that time came to expect. LITERATURE AND SOCIAL REALITY References American Literature 1865-1914 (n.d.). Retrieved from http://socrates.bmcc.cuny.edu/bp/amlit19thcentury.pdf Luebering, J.E. (2019). Periods of American Literature. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/list/periods-of-american-literature Par, M. (2018, June 9). 19th Century Literary Movements: Realism and Naturalism. Retrieved from https://www.skyminds.net/19th-century-realism-naturalism/ 6
