Question

What aspects of realism does the story "Editha" include? Cite evidence from the text to support your answer

Answer 1

One aspect of realism in the story "Editha" is the contrast between Editha's idealistic view of war and the grim reality of it. Another aspect is the portrayal of ordinary middle-class people facing personal conflicts in a contemporary setting. Editha and George are multi-faceted characters.

Step-by-step explanation:

One aspect of realism in the story "Editha" is the contrast between Editha's idealistic view of war and the grim reality of it. Editha romanticizes war and sees it as heroic, while disregarding the devastating consequences it has on individuals. This is evident in her insistence that George enlist in the army. Another aspect of realism is the portrayal of ordinary middle-class people facing personal conflicts in a contemporary setting, which is a characteristic of realist literature. The characters in the story, including Editha and George, are multi-faceted and dimensional, reflecting the complexity of real-life individuals.

Answer 2

In "Editha," Howells uses characters to build the theme and the plot of the story, an approach that is a major aspect of realist literature. The story itself revolves around the theme of realistic and truthful portrayal of events in contrast to a romantic, idealized version. Editha's character moves the plot along. The author uses her character to show how newspapers and magazines tend to glorify war and how they influenced society. Editha’s ignorance, for instance, is displayed when she echoes newspaper stories. Mrs. Gearson plays the foil to the fickle Editha. The author gives her dialogue such as "What a thing it is to have a country that can't be wrong, but if it is, is right, anyway!" to portray the deceptiveness of political wars, where people are led into believing in the righteousness of their country and its actions irrespective of the truth. The author upholds the idea of truth through the end with George's death.

Step-by-step explanation:

Straight from plato/edmentum