Realism and Naturalism

Realism is like “Mirror”. It is basically a way to see the reality, to show exactly what is happening in our environment. Realism is a representation of the middle class. When I say a representation of middle class I refer to those workers like professor lawyers, doctors etc. Those ones who do not really make anything with their hands but are part of the real world. Realism is a technique to see reality from another point of view; it was a way to see things in an objective way. In literature there are huge amount of scientific that use the term Realism to describe things that are happening in the word. A few readings emphasize the idea of realism because shows reality, shows the real effects in the past and now in the present. For example, in “Separate Ways” the author emphasizes the idea of realism with the two main characters, Okyo and Kichizo; both of them are a representation of the lower classes in Japan, an illustration of how lower class has to work day by day in order to bring food to their houses. Furthermore, the author also shows how Japan’s society is. In Japan Lower class people have to choose to do wrong things because they do not have options to go forward and be people with money. For example, Okyo at the end decided to leave her town and work as mistress because her social economic situation was critical. And for Kichizo the only way he can be a wealthy man is by getting married with a wealthy woman. Another reading that is related with the term realism is “Simple heart” by Gustave Flaubert” the author emphasizes the idea of realism with Felicite, the servant. It was an idea of how lower classes in order to survive have to work in anything. It shows the condition of lower class workers. Felicite has to work every day, her paid was low; her living condition is not the best plus she has to work long hours.

On the other hand, Naturalism is the study of natural objects is based on the study that human beings given to the nature. Naturalism is basically how people act according his social economic. For example in “Hedda Gabler” Hedda represents what Naturalism is. She is behaving in a certain way because she coming from a wealthy family. Showing that the way she behaves is largely caused by her wealthy background represent a naturalistic way of looking at the world. Hedda manipulates Tesman, her husband; because she feels she has the power to do that just because she comes from a family with money. All her actions derive from her class position. Ibsen shows how rich people in that time treated lower class people as inferior. She only uses Tesman for stability, not for love.