Howells and James have often been regarded as cofounders of realism in the USA. Howells regarded the work of James as "character-painting", "a matter of painting what he sees", thus making its realistic quality slightly doubtful, describing James as a romancer. What his favourite character, Isabel Archer, says of personal identity ("Nothing that belongs to me is any measure of me; on the contrary, it's a limit, a barrier, and a perfectly arbitrary one.") is reminiscent of American Transcendentalism: the issue of free will vs. determinism.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- American Realism
- Problems of terminology
- Reasons for emergence
- Distinction from Naturalism and American Renaissance
- Typical realism novel (The Portrait of a Lady)
- Characteristics of the American realism novel
- Thematic and formal features of The Portrait
- Daisy Miller - a study of the female protagonist
- Sophistication of the realism novel (The Wings of the Dove)
- Focus on the characters' consciousness
- Contradiction – a melodramatic story and an evasive text
- Limits of objective representation
- Elaboration of (American) realism novel
- Theory of literature in The Art of Fiction
- Further improvements - Prefaces to the New York Edition (1908)
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This text explores the development of American realism in literature, focusing on the works of Henry James. It examines the emergence of this literary movement in the context of historical and social changes in the United States, particularly the rapid industrialization and urbanization following the Civil War. The text also delves into the key characteristics of the American realism novel, analyzing the works of James and other prominent authors of the period.
- The emergence of American realism as a literary movement
- The influence of social and historical contexts on American realism
- Key characteristics of the American realism novel
- The significance of character development and inner consciousness in realism
- The relationship between American realism and European literary movements
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- American Realism: This chapter introduces the concept of American realism and explores its key features, including its distinction from Naturalism and the American Renaissance. It examines the historical and social factors that contributed to the emergence of this literary movement, such as rapid industrialization and urbanization.
- Typical realism novel (The Portrait of a Lady): This chapter focuses on The Portrait of a Lady as a representative example of the American realism novel. It analyzes the novel's thematic and formal features, highlighting the importance of character development and the exploration of inner consciousness. It also examines the role of the female protagonist in the novel.
- Sophistication of the realism novel (The Wings of the Dove): This chapter examines the evolution of American realism through the lens of The Wings of the Dove. It explores the increasing focus on the characters' consciousness and the complexities of their inner lives. The chapter also discusses the novel's use of contradiction, blending a melodramatic story with an evasive text.
- Elaboration of (American) realism novel: This chapter delves into the theoretical underpinnings of American realism, exploring Henry James's essay The Art of Fiction. It examines James's views on the role of the author and the importance of realism in capturing the complexities of human experience. The chapter also discusses James's later revisions to his work, including the prefaces to the New York Edition.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
American realism, Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady, The Wings of the Dove, character development, inner consciousness, social change, industrialization, urbanization, American Renaissance, Naturalism, objective representation, theory of literature, The Art of Fiction, prefaces to the New York Edition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core idea of American Realism in literature?
American Realism aims to portray life as it is, focusing on objective representation, character development, and the social changes brought about by industrialization and urbanization after the Civil War.
How does Henry James differ from other realist authors?
James is often described as a "character-painter." His realism focuses heavily on the inner consciousness of his characters, exploring their psychological depth rather than just external social conditions.
What is the significance of "The Portrait of a Lady"?
It is a representative realism novel that explores the theme of personal identity and free will vs. determinism through the protagonist Isabel Archer, reflecting elements of American Transcendentalism.
What is Henry James's "The Art of Fiction"?
It is an influential essay where James outlines his theory of literature, arguing that the novel should be a direct impression of life and that the author's primary duty is to be as truthful and artistic as possible.
How did social changes influence the emergence of Realism?
The rapid growth of cities and industries created a new social reality that traditional romanticism could not adequately describe. Authors turned to realism to capture the complexities of this modern American experience.
- Citar trabajo
- LL.M., MA Irina Giertz (Autor), 2005, Henry James and the American Realism, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/285212
