Two main kinds of modern realism explored in Canada are that which is rural and said to be pioneered by Grove, and that which is urban and claimed to be pioneered by Callaghan. That being said, Sime is a clear contender for pioneering urban realism, because she was practicing it before Callaghan in 1919. The Short story, “Munitions!”, focuses on urban lifestyle, particularly for women, during World War I. This type of realism is largely in contrast with that of Laurence’s and Ross’ works which explore a topic in extreme contrast to urban realism, prairie realism. Although stark contrasts, the setting of the stories, whether urban or in the prairies certainly affects the characters involved, and even more specifically affects the growth of
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were being processed and prepared for use in battle. More importantly, for the sake of this essay, this was largely being done by the women who were left behind to fend for themselves because of the war. Previously, manufacturing and the testing of ammunition would have been a male dominated occupation. This would forge a new connection between the women and a new type of lifestyle, and thus, put emphasis on the “New Woman”. The main character of “Munitions!” is named “Bertha Martin” (Sime, 278) for a reason. She is named Bertha because she is a symbol of the birth of a new type of woman. Sime plays on this idea of new woman when she claims that the bad women (which are a play on the new women), “had spent their lives caged, most of them, from shop or house, and now they were drunk with the open air and the greater freedom and the sudden liberty to do as they liked” (Sime, 278). Just as the women of the late 19th and early 20th century evolved into new women, so too do they escape to a greater freedom (just as these bad women experienced). Whether the modern city is to be considered an enabling place for women or a threatening place for women, there is no doubt that a developmental change resulted from the war itself. Sime explores how the urban setting (and thus, the new woman) affects …show more content…
In contrast to Sime, Margaret Laurence’s, “To Set Our House in Order” (which is part of a story cycle titled “A Bird in the House”) explores prairie realism just as Ross does. With that said, all three short stories explore different effects the environment has upon its characters. Laurence’s short story is based on her hometown Manawaka, which means she has first-hand experience with the prairie lifestyle. Without going too far from the point, the prairies may have affected her in a similar way that it has her characters (namely Vanessa). The prairies influenced her writing, thus helping her develop her emotions. Laurence’s and Ross’ stories are set in the same time period. That time period is the Depression in the 1930’s, the mere difference is that Laurence sets her story in Manitoba (a town based on her Manawaka) while Ross sets his near to where he is from on a Saskatchewan dust farm. For both stories, setting is very important (although arguably more so in Ross’ case). To begin with, Laurence’s family lives with Grandma Macleod because of the great depression and because of the fact that money is a problem. To prove this, they had, “moved in with Grandma Macleod when the depression got bad and she could not longer afford a housekeeper” (Laurence, 611). One of the basic outcomes of the depression was
were being processed and prepared for use in battle. More importantly, for the sake of this essay, this was largely being done by the women who were left behind to fend for themselves because of the war. Previously, manufacturing and the testing of ammunition would have been a male dominated occupation. This would forge a new connection between the women and a new type of lifestyle, and thus, put emphasis on the “New Woman”. The main character of “Munitions!” is named “Bertha Martin” (Sime, 278) for a reason. She is named Bertha because she is a symbol of the birth of a new type of woman. Sime plays on this idea of new woman when she claims that the bad women (which are a play on the new women), “had spent their lives caged, most of them, from shop or house, and now they were drunk with the open air and the greater freedom and the sudden liberty to do as they liked” (Sime, 278). Just as the women of the late 19th and early 20th century evolved into new women, so too do they escape to a greater freedom (just as these bad women experienced). Whether the modern city is to be considered an enabling place for women or a threatening place for women, there is no doubt that a developmental change resulted from the war itself. Sime explores how the urban setting (and thus, the new woman) affects …show more content…
In contrast to Sime, Margaret Laurence’s, “To Set Our House in Order” (which is part of a story cycle titled “A Bird in the House”) explores prairie realism just as Ross does. With that said, all three short stories explore different effects the environment has upon its characters. Laurence’s short story is based on her hometown Manawaka, which means she has first-hand experience with the prairie lifestyle. Without going too far from the point, the prairies may have affected her in a similar way that it has her characters (namely Vanessa). The prairies influenced her writing, thus helping her develop her emotions. Laurence’s and Ross’ stories are set in the same time period. That time period is the Depression in the 1930’s, the mere difference is that Laurence sets her story in Manitoba (a town based on her Manawaka) while Ross sets his near to where he is from on a Saskatchewan dust farm. For both stories, setting is very important (although arguably more so in Ross’ case). To begin with, Laurence’s family lives with Grandma Macleod because of the great depression and because of the fact that money is a problem. To prove this, they had, “moved in with Grandma Macleod when the depression got bad and she could not longer afford a housekeeper” (Laurence, 611). One of the basic outcomes of the depression was