heir attention to a remarkable degree on the immediate, the here and now, the specific action, and the verifiable consequence” (Chase). Realism at a basic level was grounded in the consistent reporting of every facet of daily life. According to William Dean Howells, “Realism is nothing more and nothing less than the truthful treatment of material” (Carter 36). The public’s preference for reading realism parallels changes that occurred during the end of the 19th century and into the 20th century. Some changes and developments brought about by realism were, “growth of investigative journalism; rise of muckrakers; and the establishment of a fascinations with the camera as a means of capturing the realities of a single instant, unvarnished by sentimentality” (Carter 36).Realism brought about changes in literature especially concerning the plot and character. The character became more important than action and the plot and complex ethical dilemmas became the subject matter. Characters appeared to have complex Alamo 3motives and moods. They were in close relation to each other and nature and acclimated themselves to surroundings instead of automatically reacting to it.As is the case with most things, critics have found several problems concerning Realism. To understand most reservations about realism one has to go first to the idea that any representation is a selection, and therefore implicit or explicit set of inclusions and arrangements. Also critics feel it brings about a problem with the word reality. They feel it is too inclusive to be very useful. It refers to objects, feelings, and perceptions to various beings, so realism may in fact restrict the very idea of what reality actually is. Critics also point at that Realism forms and enforces a world without a genu...
