Realism’s Effect on American Core Values
Before the twentieth century, writers such as Mark Twain, Upton Sinclair, and Stephen Crane revealed societal problems in order to initiate changes in America. These authors used realism, writing that is objective to flaws in society, and naturalism, which claims that impartial outside forces determine one’s fate, to create themes in their works. Twain’s novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, was written to expose racism and give meaning to an individual. On the other hand, Sinclair’s The Jungle, originally intended to show the poor working conditions in the meatpacking industry, showed America the revolting way their food was made. Lastly, Sinclar’s Maggie: A Girl of the Streets informed the nation of the deep class divide that exists in America. The themes in these works morally affected the nation, not only at …show more content…
In The Jungle, Sinclair wanted to expose the dangerous conditions immigrants working in factories, or in this case meatpacking plants. He also reported that rats along with their droppings became part of processed food people eat everyday. Initially, only food regulations resulted, not what Sinclair had hoped to accomplish, however at the turn of the century, the effects of his realism came into action. By 1904, the National Child Labor Committee worked to protect children from the dangers of the workplace and by 1916, most states had worker compensation laws that provided injured workers compensation (Hart and Bower 199). Both of these reforms reflect the spread realists’ values of the importance of the worker and closing the gap between the poor working class and the rich. Sinclair’s work held factory owners accountable for not only their products but also their workers, which showed America that regulation can improve the lives of
Before the twentieth century, writers such as Mark Twain, Upton Sinclair, and Stephen Crane revealed societal problems in order to initiate changes in America. These authors used realism, writing that is objective to flaws in society, and naturalism, which claims that impartial outside forces determine one’s fate, to create themes in their works. Twain’s novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, was written to expose racism and give meaning to an individual. On the other hand, Sinclair’s The Jungle, originally intended to show the poor working conditions in the meatpacking industry, showed America the revolting way their food was made. Lastly, Sinclar’s Maggie: A Girl of the Streets informed the nation of the deep class divide that exists in America. The themes in these works morally affected the nation, not only at …show more content…
In The Jungle, Sinclair wanted to expose the dangerous conditions immigrants working in factories, or in this case meatpacking plants. He also reported that rats along with their droppings became part of processed food people eat everyday. Initially, only food regulations resulted, not what Sinclair had hoped to accomplish, however at the turn of the century, the effects of his realism came into action. By 1904, the National Child Labor Committee worked to protect children from the dangers of the workplace and by 1916, most states had worker compensation laws that provided injured workers compensation (Hart and Bower 199). Both of these reforms reflect the spread realists’ values of the importance of the worker and closing the gap between the poor working class and the rich. Sinclair’s work held factory owners accountable for not only their products but also their workers, which showed America that regulation can improve the lives of