The Rise of the Novel: Studies in Defoe, Richardson and Fielding - Assignment Example

Realism dates back to the 18th century where it mainly laid focus on presenting the everyday activities and life from the perspective of the middle and lower class society without alterations or additions such as the incorporation of romanticism and dramatization. This implies that the reality is independent of man’s conceptual schemes and or linguistic practices hence corresponding to Ian Watts's argument that realism can be discovered through an individual’s senses (1996, p.32). Therefore, the employment of realism in arts implies that the representations are a continuation of an individual’s own reality.

During the earlier days of art marked by the Renaissance and classical art, works of artists mainly painters can be considered to have a feel of realism. This is because the paintings mainly represented reality as was seen at the time and there were no additions to the details of the paintings. This made it possible for the paintings to carry important information and significance hence can be considered the pioneers of realism.The 19th century marked the great incorporation of realism in writing with such authors as Flaubert and Ibsen among others embracing the then-new technique.

The works of these authors sought to incorporate a representation of the key contemporary life in their writing. For example, the works of George Eliot’s, 19th century, in the novel “Middlemarch: A study of provincial life” shows employment of realism in writing. Realism is advanced through the incorporation of real-life information such as the Reform Bill of 1832 and the beginnings of the railway hence giving the novel a sense of reality and credibility. This implies that realism is advanced through the choice of words giving detail of the scenario that has been in existence.

Additionally, realism can be advanced through the use of character voices to give an idea of the situation in progress as per the piece. This is to say that the incorporation of realism draws the reader into the works making it possible to relate with the story.