Realism in Literature Realism and Term Paper

This was Shelley's observation and the reality she experienced during her time.

Dickens and Bronte, meanwhile, experienced reality through social change, in the same way that Shelley had observed the changing times of 19th century society. However, while Shelley contemplated about the dominance of science over nature in "Frankenstein," both Dickens and Bronte reflected the breaking down of class divisions happening in the society, illustrated through the novels "Great Expectations" and "Wuthering Heights," respectively.

Dickens depicted the dissolution of class divisions through the characters of Pip and Estella, individuals who represented the underprivileged and the elite classes, respectively. In the novel, readers witnessed how Pip's ascent to a higher social class became possible through a secret benefactor, while Estella's higher stature eventually led to her poverty when Miss Havisham died. The once poor Pip eventually attained a better life, while Estella, once rich, became imprisoned in an abusive relationship with Drummle: "I had heard of her as leading a most unhappy life, and as being separated from her husband, who had used her with great cruelty..." In a similar vein, Bronte proved how 19th century was the period where class divisions were no longer stable and class mobility was not only encouraged, but was also possible. Heathcliff and Cathy Earnshaw's lives in Wuthering Heights illustrated the shifts of fortune that befell their lives, where the once rich Earnshaw family found themselves poorer than Heathcliff, who was once an orphan and maltreated servant in the Earnshaw family.This reversal of fortunes, like Pip and Estella's lives in Dickens' novel, highlighted the Bronte's observation of a social change happening in her society, thereby resulting to the story of traditional people in the midst of a changing society in the novel "Wuthering Heights."

Lastly, Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" brought into fore social change among women, who were given more opportunities and were shown to be more assertive through the character of Elizabeth Bennet. Elizabeth's strong character showed more awareness about her character and attitude, most particularly on the fact that she has the right to willfully choose the man she will acquaint herself with and eventually become her husband: "Compliments always take you by surprise, and me never....Affectation of candour is common enough -- one meets with it everywhere. But to be candid without ostentation or design...belongs to you alone." Her strong character reflected the personalities of women of the 19th century, who, as Austen had depicted in her novel, were markedly strong and open against any kind of dominance not only among males, but also to the society in general......