What makes Middlemarch such a realistic novel is the situations and the characters in the novel are applicable to everyday life. Although the novel is fictitious, many of the characters are not overly inflated into superfluous unrealistic personalities; rather, they are relatable descriptions of everyday people. The situations may sometimes be dramatic, but no more so than in real life. The settings and the surroundings in the town of Middlemarch are also appropriate with those of reality. The aspects of reality and realism throughout Middlemarch provide a much stronger connection and relationship with the reader.
The impression given by the community in Middlemarch is similar to that of a small tight-knit community almost anywhere. In
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The use of "meanwhile" throughout the novel is interesting because the events are not necessarily sequential; things are going on at the same time, or one character will mention someone else and the novel will pan over to what is happening with them. It is as though the reader is walking through Middlemarch themselves and peering in the windows of the residents. "Meanwhile, in his conversation with Raffles, he had learned something momentous, something which entered actively into the struggle of his longings and terrors." (488). Here the reader is initially being told about Mr Bulstrode, but then Raffles' name is slipped into the section and the reader is passed onto finding more out about what is going on with John Raffles.
Other elements of reality in Middlemarch are the ways that wealth and poverty are depicted. There does not seem to be as extreme of divisions between the wealthy and the poor as in Wuthering Heights. There are a lot more working class individuals, even many of the wealthier people are still hard workers and land owners. In Emma, the wealthy do very little to earn their money except belong to the right family and inherit wealth through family association, whereas the elite of Middlemarch deserve and earn their money. "In brief, Lydgate was what is called a successful man." (637). Upon Lydgate's death his family was left with a large insurance payment. He was a
In my opinion this book is very realistic because it provides us with everyday challenges that we face in our own lives. Not only does it provide us with everyday challenges that we face,but the
Realism in this story is throughout the story. The encounters of war are explained in lifelike detail. One example of realism shown in the story is when the boy returns home to see his house burning and seeing his mother’s lifeless body on the ground. “There, conspicuous in the light of the conflagration, lay the dead body of a woman the white face turned upward, the hands thrown
In Middlemarch, George Eliot utilizes several literary devices to portray her two characters and their complex relationship that reveals their marriage is dominated by the husband who objectifies his wife into silence. Throughout the passage, Eliot makes it clear that Rosamond and Tertius Lydgate are in an uneven relationship, considering Tertius refuses to listen to his wife who seems to only have his best interest at heart, yet still, he continues to yell at her for thinking she knows what is best for him. With the help of details, Tertius’s critical tone, and imagery, Eliot is able to showcase how complex their relationship is when it comes to Rosamond giving her opinions and ideas, just to be casted to the side.
* The middle class lay in the middle and was the group of people in society that had bigger better houses on their own block of land and were quite well off when it came to money and resources.
Wealth is the average picture of the good life. Many in this world stride to become wealthy and live a luxurious life. Being wealthy determines a certain lifestyle considering the way you live and even where you live. If you were to look up wealth in a dictionary it would say wealth is an abundance of money. Gatsby the main character of the book The Great Gatsby written by F. Scott Fitzgerald just so happens to be living the wealthy lifestyle. In the book it shows many different types of lifestyles during this era. Another character that goes by the name Tom Buchanon lives on a large property. They describe his home as “more elaborate than I expected, a cheerful red-and-white Georgian Colonial mansion…” (Fitzgerald 6). Which at this time is rare to own. His house is large and elegant he had a large inheritance of money that he used for the “look” of his family. Then to see the other side of the world there was a place called the “valley of ashes” that has no wealth at all this is where Wilson and Myrtle lived. It was explained as “....a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens; where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys….” (Fitzgerald 23). This is how Fitzgerald describes the poor side of town. The valley of ashes is the dirty and poor industrial zone back then. There were many ties between the different groups back then of West Egg and East Egg.
Although Highbury was just a small population town, the particular social structure was reflecting this type of class structure about Britain. For instance, the love amongst Robert Martin and Harriet was not acceptable in Emma’s eyes. Robert Martin was a successful respectable farmer; Harriet is a friend of Emma and illegitimate of a tradesman nevertheless she received well cared and properly educated. So Emma couldn’t agree while Mr. Martin proposed marriage to Harriet, subsequently Emma Convinced Harriet to Refused to associate with Robert Martin. And try to match Harriet and Mr. Elton who was considered as higher rank of society status, young priest with record of great educating. In Emma describe of Mr. Martin “he may be the richest of the two, but he is undoubtedly her inferior as to rank in society.”(Emma, Chapter7, and p.33) it is clear that time, marriage most depended on and compromised with the values of their social status.
Admiral Croft who was among the nouveau rich, had the financial means to rent Kellnych from Sir Walter, one of the so-called landed gentry. How does Jane Austen's treatment of class and social mobility reveal about these men and their women such as Anne Elliot and Mrs. Smith? Which group fares better and why?
The author uses descriptive language to provide the reader with an insight into Martins journey. For example, Martin is aware that his Mother and Old Ted have a difficult relationship, she says “he is an impossible man, as mad as an axe” (pg 4). Another
Realism can be defined as view in which the author tries to depict life as truthfully and accurately as possible. The use of realistic or lifelike settings described by the author or narrated by a character, add a layer of realism to the story, even if the story itself is fictitious. The characters themselves are often portrayed as believable as possible, to the point that the character being described could actually exist; they are often depicted as very average people, void of extreme wealth, influence, or astounding abilities. The reason characters and settings are often
In many cases when you read a novel you may find comparisons between the "fictional" society and your realistic one. The author may consciously or unconsciously create similarities between these two worlds. The novelist can foresee the future and write according to this vision. In Brave New World, Adlous Huxley envisions the future of our society and the dangerous direction it is headed in.
Austen is very concerned about the social environment of his characters, and his settings clearly reflect this concern. Barton is the countryside, and our main characters live in the shadow of landed gentry (the Middletons at Barton Park). It is notable that Elinor and Marianne are always out of people moving back between London and Devonshire themselves are not well, and they depend on rich connections to stay in social loop Of moderate-to-high societies. The particular Austen moment in history is an interesting one. His novels are fascinated by the unique and unusual interaction between people of different social levels - a new development in England at that time. His books are firmly planted in the bourgeoisie, a class that is up-and-up while he writes. None of his characters in Sense and Sensibility are firmly planted in the upper echelons of high society; Even the richiest are not included in noble social circles. Instead, the spaces where Dashwoods are in the middle of the class (and believe us, there are a million different levels of "middle class" running on it). His books are firmly planted in the bourgeoisie, a class that is up-and-up while he writes. None of his characters in Sense and Sensibility are firmly planted in the upper echelons of high society; Even the richiest are not included in noble social circles. Instead, the spaces where Dashwoods are in the middle of the class (and believe us, there are a million different levels of "middle class" running on it). His books are firmly planted in the bourgeoisie, a class that is up-and-up while he writes. None of his characters in Sense and Sensibility are firmly planted in the upper echelons of high society; Even the richiest are not included in noble social circles. Instead, the spaces where Dashwoods are in the middle of the class (and believe us, there are a million different levels of "middle class" running
Reality is not an objective thing that is imposed upon us, but is created by us. Reality does not exist externally but internally, as each individual or group interprets it, and is always changing. Due to these concepts sociologists often speak about the “social construction of reality” which is essential to understand when attempting to explain human social behavior. Since realty is the basis of people’s actions, W. I. Thomas states, “If people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences”. The “social construction of reality”, human social behavior and W. I. Thomas’s statement are three concepts that fit hand in hand and are important when trying to explain one another.
Their limited education consisted of needlework, fine handwriting, singing, dancing, playing piano, and reading (3). Marriage at this time was the only thing that could give a woman any sense of security. If their fathers were to die, it was custom that only the eldest son could inherit the money and property. Unfortunately, if the family did not have a male son the land would be given to the closet male relative, which left the women in a very delicate position. Austen show’s readers this aspect of her society by having the Bennet sisters in the same situation. Without a male sibling their land and home will be entailed to a Mr. Collins. If Mr. Bennet were to die, his five daughters and his wife would be left homeless or at the charity of others because Mr. Collins would not have it in his heart to let them reside in the house with him. Their only way to escape this fate would be to get married. However, there was many obstacles that middle class young women had to deal with that kept young suitors uninterested. One was their social station. The society of this time was so stratified that even one class could be broken down into more distinctions of rank (2). The people did not often marry outside of their social rank, which left middle class women with middle class men. Unfortunately, money also played a big part in the determination of whether
Historically, humanity has been obsessed with discovering the nature of reality. Every person eventually develops their own worldview based on their beliefs, morals, and experiences. At one point in their lives, many people undergo a radical change in perception that forces them to change this view, eventually adopting a new perception of reality. Such a transformation occurs once one starts to question the fundamental nature of one’s own existence and that of the world around them. This realization begins with the disillusionment with one’s environment, continues with the questioning of one’s life’s worth, and concludes with the acceptance of a new worldview.
The use of realism offer s and insight into the unknown for most readers, but by creating characters such as the heroine, Anne Elliott who the reader can be most associated with, assists Austen in influencing the reader.