Realism in Chopin and Freeman
Women in the 19th century, married or unmarried, were expected to stay at home all day taking care of the house and cleaning up after others. So it is no surprise that with nowhere else to be but home, many women began to purchase novels and read in their spare time. Many women took an interest in realist works of literature that were written by women, and about women much like themselves. Middle-class, homemaking women enjoyed reading about snapshots of middle-class to upper-class women’s lives, and everyday situations to which they could relate. Kate Chopin and Mary Wilkins Freeman were two of the century’s most well-known female realist authors. Both Chopin and Freeman use literary realism, and more specifically …show more content…
Both stories describe life as nothing more or less than absolutely regular. Life is not magical but instead very typical. In “Story of an Hour,” Chopin writes, “She could see in the open square before her house the tops of the trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air. In the street below a peddler was crying his wares” (543). Chopin describes Louise’s atmosphere exactly how Louise would be able to see it and nothing more. Even though the language makes Louise’s surroundings seem extraordinarily beautiful, while they may be beautiful, it does not attempt to describe anything out of Louise’s view. It is her exact realistic life. The breath of rain is described as “delicious” but this is because Louise herself may simply find joy in the breath of rain. Therefore, this description is not out of the range of realism. Similarly, Mary Wilkins Freeman also describes life in the same fashion in “A New England Nun.” Every aspect of Louisa’s life is described as pertaining to her own perspective. Even if it sounds romantic, it only does so because Louisa feels that way about what she can see or hear. However, romantic or not, Louisa’s life is described exactly how it is and nothing out of her view. For example, Freeman writes, “Somewhere in the distance cows were lowing and a little bell was tinkling; now and then a farm-wagon tilted by, and the dust flew; some blue-shirted laborers with shovels over their shoulders plodded past; little swarms of flies were dancing up and down before the peoples’ faces in the soft air” (640). All of these things are visible or audible to Louisa herself through her sitting-room window. She can hear the bell tinkling, see the farm-wagons, and see the flies. The story is written not quite
Women in the 19th century, married or unmarried, were expected to stay at home all day taking care of the house and cleaning up after others. So it is no surprise that with nowhere else to be but home, many women began to purchase novels and read in their spare time. Many women took an interest in realist works of literature that were written by women, and about women much like themselves. Middle-class, homemaking women enjoyed reading about snapshots of middle-class to upper-class women’s lives, and everyday situations to which they could relate. Kate Chopin and Mary Wilkins Freeman were two of the century’s most well-known female realist authors. Both Chopin and Freeman use literary realism, and more specifically …show more content…
Both stories describe life as nothing more or less than absolutely regular. Life is not magical but instead very typical. In “Story of an Hour,” Chopin writes, “She could see in the open square before her house the tops of the trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air. In the street below a peddler was crying his wares” (543). Chopin describes Louise’s atmosphere exactly how Louise would be able to see it and nothing more. Even though the language makes Louise’s surroundings seem extraordinarily beautiful, while they may be beautiful, it does not attempt to describe anything out of Louise’s view. It is her exact realistic life. The breath of rain is described as “delicious” but this is because Louise herself may simply find joy in the breath of rain. Therefore, this description is not out of the range of realism. Similarly, Mary Wilkins Freeman also describes life in the same fashion in “A New England Nun.” Every aspect of Louisa’s life is described as pertaining to her own perspective. Even if it sounds romantic, it only does so because Louisa feels that way about what she can see or hear. However, romantic or not, Louisa’s life is described exactly how it is and nothing out of her view. For example, Freeman writes, “Somewhere in the distance cows were lowing and a little bell was tinkling; now and then a farm-wagon tilted by, and the dust flew; some blue-shirted laborers with shovels over their shoulders plodded past; little swarms of flies were dancing up and down before the peoples’ faces in the soft air” (640). All of these things are visible or audible to Louisa herself through her sitting-room window. She can hear the bell tinkling, see the farm-wagons, and see the flies. The story is written not quite