How did literary realism play a part in portraying Americans lives during the late 19th century? Literary realism is the fact of representing a situation accurately or in a way that is true to life. Social differences of class and race were issues occurring during the realism time period. Racial passing also occurred and it is when a member of one racial group classifies themselves as a member of a different racial group. Most people think racial passing only occurred in the late 19th century, however, that is not completely true. Racial passing did take place during the late 19th century, but it still occurs throughout society today. Racial passing created tension during the realism period between different racial groups. Martha Cutter, a …show more content…
Tension between the different racial groups was high due to slavery. Kate Chopin describes racial tension and how it created difficulties within marriages: “Moreover he no longer loved her, because of the unconscious injury she had brought upon his home and his name” (404). When Armand discovers his baby is of African Ancestry he becomes infuriated. He believes his wife carries the ancestry that is cursed with slavery and tells her to leave with the child. He no longer loves his wife just because he believes she is of African ancestry. The skin color of the baby was worth more to Armand than his marriage. The tension between races put a strain on marriage, proving race to be more important than marriage. In the realism period the human mind could not handle being part of a lower class, which typically consisted of individuals of African heritage. Individuals did not want to be a part of the lower class that was seen as being cursed with slavery, which is why racial passing occurred. “Desiree’s Baby” accurately depicts the verisimilitude of racial differences during the late …show more content…
Individuals of a higher class were typically viewed as respectful individuals, who set high standards in society. The narrator of “The Real Thing” assumes the Monarchs, who represent the upper class would make great models due to their social standing. However, in the end the narrator realizes perception is not reality because the Monarchs did not exemplify the upper class: “They had accepted their failure, but they couldn’t accept their fate” (James 400). During the late 1800’s people’s perceptions were that those of the upper class could complete tasks, such as modeling. However, in reality even though the Monarchs were of upper class they could not do the job as well as the servants could. The servants are the ones who made better models than individuals, who represented the upper class did. This surprised the narrator because even though the Monarch occupied the upper class they did not actually represent it. Also, the Monarchs could not accept their fate and they soon realized the real thing was less precious than they unreal. “The Real Thing” by Henry James depicted social differences between class and how perception is not always the
The association between light and darkness played a major role in the outcome of this story. Desiree the wife of Armand was always associated with things of lightness. After Desiree was recovering from just given birth to their son she laid on the couch in her “soft white muslins and lace” (Valencia Community College). When Desiree confronts her husband about the race of their child Desiree skin pigmentation is whiter than her husbands. Desiree shows Armand the letter from Valmonde, the book says she was resembled a stone image white and motionless. In October when Desiree was abandoned Armand she left still wearing the white thin garment and slippers. Armand and the baby were always associated with darkness throughout the story. Armand skin complexion was darker than his wife’s. The story also describes Armand face as being dark and handsome. The baby association with darkness came when the baby was lying across Desiree mahogany bed. Mahogany is some dark brown colored wood. Another comparison of the chi...
The motivation behind this article is to analyze why Armand 's pride was greater and more than the affection for his better half, Desiree and how race changed everything. All through this story, Armand is depicted as the man who had it all. He assumed that on account of his family name which he believed was, "… one of the most established and proudest in Louisiana" (Chopin 1). The way that Armand was a slave proprietor and originated from a family whose name was notable he utilized his family name as another approach to feel like a lord other than owning slaves. Armand 's pride started things out before his family since he had an inclination that he needed to secure the family name and history at any cost. For this he didn 't need anything to pulverize who and what he was which was an outstanding slave proprietor, so he advised his better half and child to leave since he expected that she was dark. Armand did not need individuals to disapprove of him or make him into a joke in this way, he felt like "… he no longer cherished her, in light of the oblivious harm she had brought upon his home and his name" (Chopin 2). The "oblivious damage" Armand alludes to is the lost memory he feels his better half has lost of her ethnicity. At long last, Armand felt that his pride was harmed on account of the disgrace his significant other has conveyed to the family name of Aubigny. Race is the second significant issue in the short story other than pride. Since Armand assumed that he knew his past and who he really was and he accepted that Desiree was the motivation behind why their child is blended. Additionally, as a result of the way that Desiree was received and did not realize what her ethnicity was Armand felt like her race, which he accepted was dark, changes everything. Race is a shading not a source and Desiree looked white and white components
In the story of “Desiree’s Baby” by Kate Chopin, there are many literary themes that can be analyzed such as love, racism, gender inequality, and miscegenation. What this analysis will focus on is primarily on the central male character, Armand Aubigny, and on his views towards racism. More specifically, what this essay will aim to prove is that Armand Aubigny looked down upon the African race to the point where he hated them. One of the biggest driving points to aid this idea is how his family name shaped his behavior and actions according to the societal normalities of his time period. Another important aspect that will be considered is his very relationship towards his slaves in how he treated them cruelly even to the point where he is described as “having the spirit of Satan” (Chopin 3). In addition to this, the reader will also see Armand’s negative reaction to being aware of the implications of his son and wife having mixed blood in where he practically disowns them. With all this culminating to Armand finding out the ugly truth that the race he had treated so horribly is actually a part of his very own blood as well.
The Realism Movement in the nineteen century provoked society to transition into a whole new mindset in the way they viewed the world. It was more than a movement or a passive trend, but it became more of a lifestyle. In the 18th century, the United States experienced The Enlightenment in which society became more open to becoming more educated. This is a broad interpretation of the time era that said that, “The Enlightenment produced the first modern theories of psychology and ethics…. creating the individual character according to the individual experience” (Bodrogean, Adina). United States transitioned into a Romanticism era that due to the romantic artists and authors common themes at the time were the nature of love, right vs evil, and heroism. Authors were sugar coating their works and about heroes just unrealistic anecdotes about life. The Civil War was a turning point society became aware about the hardships, devastation and fear. Life wasn’t all about hope and optimism. Society would start to question religion and life itself which led to the realist view of the time era. We transitioned into a new era where society encounters the hardships in life and how Romanticism was not all the life was about. In the nineteen century the Realism Movement was uprising in the literature aspect with authors and playwrights such as Langston Hughes, Henrik Ibsen, and Anton Chekhov.
How does William Dean Howells convey his work as an American Realist writer? American realism writers demonstrated realism in a variety of ways; by the life experiences they had and how they dealt with current social, personal, and economic issues. William Dean Howells was an American Realist writer that wrote about plausible problems that reflected actual issues that occurred at the present time. Labor problems, such as the Haymarket Incident: the wrongful persecution of radicals in 1887, were pivotal roles that gradually characterized Howells realism as well as economic issues. Another factor that affected the economy, which brought about the author’s evidence of realism, was the post-Civil War. Howells wanted to show a “clear vision of joys
A symbol is any “‘object, act, event, quality, or relation which serves as a vehicle for conception’” (230). Peyote Hunt: The Sacred Journey of the Huichol Indians by Barbara Myerhoff is a very intricate text which involves numerous aspects of symbolism. Myerhoff not only applies a much deeper meaning to deer, maize, and peyote, but she also uses these objects as a representation of divine beings and spirits. The deer, maize, and peyote are very powerful entities but together they form the deer-maize-peyote complex, which is central to the Huichol life. The unification of these disparate objects can be easily understood once they are analyzed on three different levels: exegetical, operational, and positional.
Armand feels like he is the victim of betrayal by his wife Désirée. As the baby gets older it is clear that the baby is not white. Armand’s attitude quickly makes him assume that Désirée is not white giving Armand a feeling of deception. He denounces his love for Désirée and the child and casts them out of the house and his life. Désirée is stricken with grief about her treatment by Armand. She cannot believe how a man who loves her so much could treat her with such hostility and cruelty. Désirée develops a negative attitude towards herself and her baby. She is upset that she cannot change how Armand thinks of her because of her baby. This attitude causes Désirée to walk out of Armand’s life forever to her demise. Core beliefs also give to human behavior in “Samuel” and “Desiree’s
Realism is a style and type of writing where writers sought to portray life as it really was. The text focused on real characters with jobs with real life problems. some traits include a low class to middle-class living. The characters are often the underdog. They typically deal with pain and struggles. These facts are specific and important because, in the years 1865 through 1910 realism broke out, therefore realism was a reaction and a rejection to the romanticism era. The message the Romanticism era had to offer didn 't quite strike with the new age of America. As the 19th century start rolling, new immigrants flooded into the United States adding on to the country 's population. Factories started being built making life easier. This was great due employing numerous people. Urban areas expand with both
In “Desiree’s Baby,” a short story by Kate Chopin, there were three major themes: identity, racism, and gender roles. Armand has demonstrated his actual true character. He was a coldblooded, one-sided, and non caring man who was not worthy of Desiree and her kid. Armand broke his marriage promise to Desiree and his parental obligation due to his prejudgment toward the child's race. Chopin also noted a lady’s place in marriage in the mid-nineteenth century. They had nothing to do with money related transactions, political, or social issues. Everything had its place with the man including the
Although Armand truly loved Desiree, his love wasn’t stronger than protecting his family’s status. He knew from the beginning that it was he who was not white. Hoping that his child would not come out black, he still took precautions by marrying a woman with an unknown origin to put the blame on. He hated himself for what he truly was and he was not going to let anyone know his secret and have that kind of power over him. It was never Desiree’s fault and she ended up suffering when it was really Armand’s doing.
Throughout the years many variations of the ideas on race, class, and culture have been presented based upon different factors. In earlier times people’s views were not nearly the same as they are presented today. Ideas that women belong in the kitchen or that African-American’s were an inferior race were common. Those views were very popular during the time of Kate Chopin’s book “Desiree’s Baby.” Chopin’s book explores the controversial areas of race and class as well as touching on the subject of culture. “Desiree’s Baby” shows the life of Desiree from a young child through adulthood. The young Desiree was found by a rich family alone on the streets. Even in a time where race and social class was important the wealthy, a rich couple took in young Desiree without knowing her ancestral background. Desiree lived a good life with the family. The story then switches to when Desiree was a young adult and falls in love with Armand Aubigny. Armand also comes from a wealthy background and still falls for Desiree without knowing her racial background. Eventually, the young couple has a baby but to their surprise the baby comes out with African traits. Armand is not happy and rethinks whether she has African in her background or if maybe she had an affair with a slave. Desiree’s mother offers to have her and the baby come back and stay with them but when Desiree leaves she disappears and is never seen again. Later, Armand finds out that it may not have been Desiree that carries African roots but himself, from his mother’s side. Overall, Chopin’s work looks into the controversial issues of race, class, gender and culture using ironies and the story-line to infer the views of these topics.
In 'Desiree?s Baby,' Chopin illustrates her idea of the relationship between men and women by portraying Desiree as vulnerable and easily affected, whereas Armand is presented as superior and oppressive. Throughout ?Desiree?s Baby,? Kate Chopin investigates the concept of Armand's immense power over Desiree. At first, Desiree tries to conform to the traditional female role by striving to be an obedient wife. Later in the story, this conformity changes after Desiree gives birth to her part-black son.
One of the main reasons for picking this section was how well it explained the themes and ideas that Henry James was trying to convey in “The Real Thing”. This article was able to help us better understand the use of realism and how it had an impact on the story and characters. The main driving force behind “The Real Thing” is the nature of what is real and what is simulated. The Monarch’s seem to pass for wealthy, upper class citizens, from the way they talk, act, and even dress, and the Artist believes it as well. “For the narrator, Mrs. Monarch stubbornly remains ‘the real thing’; the Monarchs radiate the aura of wealth and its desired associations” (Bazargan 135). However, the Monarchs were only trying to pass as wealthy in the eyes of others, even when they had no such wealth. This view that the Artist had of the Monarchs overlapped into his paintings, and he was never able to portray them as they were, instead, only as he perceived them to
Literary realism is the trend, beginning with mid nineteenth-century French literature and extending to late-nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century authors, toward depictions of contemporary life and society as it was, or is. In the spirit of general "realism," realist authors opted for depictions of everyday and banal activities and experiences, instead of a romanticized or similarly stylized presentation. (Wikipedia, Literary Realism)
Between the years of 1865 and 1914, American literature was mainly comprised of three writing styles: realism, regionalism, and naturalism. Realism aims to portray life realistically. Though realism...