Realism In The Civil War

Although Realism is still a current movement in literature, the original crusade began in 1860 and lasted until 1900. The Civil War was a major event that ultimately defined the people and their ways of thinking. One of the most influential affairs was the Civil War. This war arose because of the conflict between the North and the South regarding slavery. After four lengthy, bleak years, the war had been won by the North, therefore abolishing slavery in America ("The Civil War"). The Americans living during the time of the Civil War experienced cultural trauma causing an everlasting modified sense of national apprehension (Csiscila). Writings were influenced by the ideas of this time. The events that the people of this time experienced would …show more content…
Authors of this time blasted through the previous rules of writing and delved into topics that were not permitted ("Literature in the 1900s, 1900-1909"). Of these features included new themes and changes in plot. "Instinct, passion, and heredity as well as the setting are frequently explored themes in naturalism, as are fate, individualism, and survival of the fittest" (“Naturalism”). One of the major changes of the literary realism was the plot. Many now had a trend of featuring characters that were exposed to ethical differences (Csicsila). Although Naturalism may seem as if it deals with Mother Nature, it in truth deals with human nature ("Naturalism"). Contrary to other works of literature, writings during Naturalism were driven by the characters rather than driven by the plot ("Naturalism"). Authors that created literary works during Naturalism often depicted characters living "more-sordid, more-urgent lives." In other words, the characters experience incidents with the most realistic outcomes, whereas other literature pieces had the tendency to focus on the joyous and jubilant aspects of the story ("Literature in the 1900s, 1900-1909"). There was also a shift to realism in this evolutionary period. "The attempt to present human life as accurately as possible through the arts began as a movement in the 1700s and was an accepted artistic concept by the mid nineteenth century, but artists' …show more content…
Many people recognize her for her powerful input on feminine evolution and for her role as an artist during the American realist movement (Seyersted). In the novel The Awakening, Kate Chopin emphasizes a change in the main character's actions to portray a spark in the Women's Rights Movement. The Awakening depicts Chopin's standings on feminism and the liberation of women (Seyersted). '… Edna Pontillier... says: "I would give up the unessential; I would… give my life for the children; but I would not give myself."' (Seyersted). By saying this, Edna foreshadows her own awakening and realization of her position in the physical and spiritual world (Seyersted). "While defeated by her environment, she is also victorious: finally understanding her own nature and her situation as a woman, she exerts her inner freedom by assuming sole responsibility for her life" (Seyersted). Chopin is able to depict this sensible evolution of Edna's character through the lack of understanding from her husband. "That is, he [Mr. Pontellier] could not see that she was becoming herself and daily casting aside that fictitious self which we assume like a garment with which to appear before the world" (Chopin 57). Through the narration of The Awakening, Chopin utilizes a single character to successfully prove the shift in femininity for women everywhere. As Chopin wrote her stories about women gaining confidence,