The Definition of Psychological Realism

Psychological realism is a literary genre that came to prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  It’s a highly character-driven genre of fiction writing, as it focuses on the motivations and internal thoughts of characters. A writer of psychological realism seeks to not only show what the characters do but also explain why they take such actions. Theres often a larger theme in psychological realist novels, with the author expressing an opinion on a societal or political issue through the choices of his or her characters. However, psychological realism should not be confused with psychoanalytic writing or surrealism, two other modes of artistic expression that flourished in the 20th century and focused on psychology in unique ways. Dostoevsky and Psychological Realism An excellent example of psychological realism (although the author himself didn’t necessarily agree with the classification) is Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment. This 1867 novel (first published as a series of stories in a literary journal in 1866) centers on Russian student Rodion Raskolnikov and his plan to murder an unethical pawnbroker. The novel spends a great deal of time focusing on his self-recrimination and attempts to rationalize his crime. Throughout the novel, we meet other characters who are engaged in distasteful and illegal acts motivated by their desperate financial situations: Raskolnikovs sister plans to marry a man who can secure her familys future, and his friend Sonya prostitutes herself because she is penniless. In understanding the characters motivations, the reader gains a better understanding of Dostoevskys  overarching theme: the conditions of poverty. American Psychological Realism: Henry James American novelist Henry James also used psychological realism to great effect in his novels. James explored family relationships, romantic desires, and small-scale power struggles through this lens, often in painstaking detail. Unlike Charles Dickens realist novels (which tend to level direct criticisms at social injustices) or Gustave Flauberts realist compositions (which are made up of lavish, finely-ordered descriptions of varied people, places, and objects), James works of psychological realism focused largely on the inner lives of prosperous characters. His most famous novels—including The Portrait of a Lady, The Turn of the Screw, and The Ambassadors—portray characters who lack self-awareness but often have unfulfilled yearnings. Other Examples of Psychological Realism James emphasis on psychology in his novels influenced some of the most important writers of the modernist era, including Edith Wharton and T.S. Eliot. Whartons The Age of Innocence, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1921, offered an insiders view of upper-middle-class society. The novels title is ironic since the main characters, Newland, Ellen, and May, operate in circles that are anything but innocent. Their society has strict rules about what is and isnt proper, despite what its inhabitants want. As in Crime and Punishment, the inner struggles of Whartons characters are explored to explain their actions. At the same time, the novel paints an unflattering picture of their world. Eliots best-known work, the poem The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, also falls into the category of psychological realism, although it also could be classified as surrealist or romantic as well. Its an example of stream of consciousness writing, as the narrator describes his frustration with missed opportunities and lost love.

Going Nuclear How Nuclear Energy Could Save The Planet

Going Nuclear: How Nuclear Energy Could Save the Planet Logically it s not hard to see that if there is a limited supply of something, one day it will finally run out. What happens when society relies on a resource that is nonrenewable? This is something that scientists are struggling with more and more each passing day. Though this is true of many substances that humans use (helium, chocolate, gold...), the most important substances that our lives rely on are fossil fuels. While there is a wide range of guesses regarding how long we have left until we deplete the world s supply of fossil fuels, most experts say that we only have a few years before harvesting them becomes much more difficult (and expensive) (Lamb 2010). Given our unfortunate dependence on energy, this would have a massive effect on everything in life. Without energy, society as we know it would not be able to continue functioning. Even ignoring the limited supply, it s hard to deny that the harvesting of resources th roughout time has caused a plethora of problems ( Miners Lung is a disease that s affectionately known to come from mining coal after all, and cave ins are not at all an entirely unheard of problem). As such, this leaves us with really only one viable option: go nuclear before it s too late. One of the primary issues with fossil fuels is their negative impact on the planet and our environment. Greenhouse gasses cause a long string of reactions that lead to our planet slowly heatingShow MoreRelatedEthos, Pathos and Nuclear Energy1265 Words   |  6 PagesEthos, Pathos and Nuclear Energy Something always curious and provoking happens in science writing. Gwyneth Cravens is an author of five novels and many publications, and one who studies a topic in great detail. She creates an enormous work about nuclear energy for the last decade. Cravens’s research in her last published book titled Power to Save the World: The Truth About Nuclear Energy has led her to do an about-face on the issue. In her article â€Å"Better Energy† which was published in May 2008Read MorePreventing Global Warming Essay1219 Words   |  5 Pagesmany negative consequences to humans, animals, and even plants. The effects of global warming will throw human lifestyles into jeopardy. Agriculture would be thrown into turmoil. Public heath could suffer. Rising seas could contaminate water supplies with salt. Stronger sunlight and warmer temperature could cause respiratory illness. Hot spells would be come more frequent, leading to heat related deaths. Warmer temperatures would widen the range of disease carried by rodents and mosquitoes. 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He believed that the only reason to have nuclear weaponry was to prevent theRead MoreTypes Of Energy Resources Used All Over The World872 Words   |  4 PagesThere are many types of energy resources used all over the world. These can be classified as either renewable or non-renewable energy sources. Renewable sources are those that are found readily but do not face the possibility of depletion. These include solar, wind and hydroelectric energy sources. Non-renewable energy sources are found in the environment but can be depleted by overuse and these include natural gas, coal, and oil. Among the renewable energy sources, solar energy is the most commonlyRead MoreEssay about How Can We Avoid Asteroids?1363 Words   |  6 PagesHow can we avoid asteroids? In our everyday lives, there are a multitude of forces acting on and upon us all the time. One fundamental force is gravity. Gravity (also known as gravitational force) is the force of attraction. Every object in the world that has mass exerts a pull-otherwise known as force, on other mass [Forces of Attraction.]. Gravitational pull increases and decreases depending on the amount of mass, and how close objects are. [Weight, Mass and Gravity.] [See Fig 1.]. In thisRead MoreThe Discovery Of The Atomic Bomb2431 Words   |  10 Pageswhatever relief the American people felt from winning WWII was tempered by the realization that science had just created a weapon that could wipe nations off the face of the earth. The atomic bomb, if other countries obtained the technology, could bring about a nuclear holocaust. This fear of technology could have stymied scientific progress post WWII. However, going into the Cold War, people once again put their hope in science and looked at scientific pro gress as a measure of whether they were beating

Essay on Hawthornes The Scarlett Letter - 1066 Words

Hawthornes The Scarlett Letter Works Cited Missing He is the complete type of man of the world, the social ideal,--courteous, quiet, well informed, imperturbably. Nevertheless, his moral nature is a poisonous and irreclaimable wilderness, in which blooms not a single flower of heavenly parentage. (J. Hawthorne) Over the course of seven years, Roger Chillingworth changes from a calm, scholarly, and kind person to an evil, corrupt, and satanic being. Roger Chillingworths life in England with Hester was happy. He studied alchemy, and was scholarly and well learned. Although Hester and Chillingworth did not share love, they were happy together. †¦he used to emerge at eventide from the seclusion of his study and sit down in the†¦show more content†¦These are the first hints of the evil that would soon consume him. The following three years bring many negative changes to Chillingworth. Hester Pryne was startled to perceive what a change has come over his features--how his dark complexion seemed to have grown duskier, and his figure more misshapen†¦ (108) He had established himself as a doctor in Boston. People felt it was Divine providence that Chillingworth came to Boston to tend for their loved Minister Dimsdale. Chillingworth became acquaintances with Dimsdale and eventually moved in with him. Chillingworth studied the Minister closely and tore through his ideas and thoughts. He now dug into the poor clergy mans heart like a miner searching for gold; or, rather, like a sexton delving into a grave, possibly in quest of a jewel that had been buried on the dead mans bosom, but likely to find nothing save mortality and corruption. (125) Chillingworth is now almost completely consumed with evil. He still is calm, but was never released from his horrible fascination with learning the identity of Pearls father. In the presence of so much wickedness over the course of three years changed Chillingworth. Chillingworth is being consumed by evil gradually; consequently, when he finds the marking on Dimsdales chest, assuring him his victim, he is completely overcome by devilry knowing at last that he has found his victim. Had a man seen old Roger Chillingworth, at that moment of his ecstasy, heShow MoreRelatedNathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlett Letter Essay1269 Words   |  6 Pageschildren. Together, these transcendentalist principles function together to make Pearl a fitting representation of Hawthorne’s themes and ideologies. Pearl’s individuality, symbolized in dress and epitomized by behavior, opposes Puritan conformity and thus supports Hawthorne’s transcendentalist ideals. One of the first distinctions made between Pearl and society in The Scarlet Letter, her luxurious â€Å"garb† marks Pearl as an individual in conventional New England. 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Hester finds a way to supportRead More Hawt hornes Puritanical Beliefs Revealed in The Scarlett Letter and Young Goodman Brown1739 Words   |  7 PagesHawthornes Puritanical Beliefs Revealed in The Scarlett Letter and Young Goodman Brown When an author depicts a person or group of people in his or her work, the opinion of the writer most often sifts into the descriptions, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Some writers are very guarded regarding their feelings toward any particular subject, while others are very open and happy to share. Nathaniel Hawthorne belongs to the latter group. The purpose of the majority of his literary workRead MoreSymbols Found in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlett Letter Essay842 Words   |  4 PagesSeveral symbols that are found within Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter, represent a greater idea found outside of the story itself. The uses of symbols throughout the novel portray a truthful version of reality, one that people can relate to and find in their daily lives. He uses symbols found within nature to develop the setting, characters, and mood. The use of light and color play a significant role in depicting the symbolism of the scenery and background of the novel. The forestRead MoreAnalysis Of Nathaniel Hawthorne s Scarlet Fever 1254 Words   |  6 Pagesof short stories called twice-Told Tales (Glencoe)†. Hawthorne destroyed copies of Fanshawe because it was not popular. He did not destroy Twice-ToldTales because people liked it and made him successful. â€Å"The year 1842 marked a turning point in Hawthorne’s life (Student Guide)†. He was brought into transcendentalism that year. On July 9, 1842, Hawthorne married Sophia Peabody and moved to Concord, Massachusetts (Biography)†. Two years later, the couple got their first child. Due to increasing debtRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter, By Nathaniel Hawthorne Essay1389 Words   |  6 PagesNathaniel Hawthorne’s fictional work, The Scarlet Letter, is significantly influenced by his experience with transcendental beliefs and values. Transcendentalists believe they are at their best when they are self-reliant and independent. His wife, Sophia Peabody, practiced transcendentalism, but he spent a year living and working at Brook Farm in Massachusetts, which was a transcendental community. Influenced by Sophia’s interest in the transcendentalist movement, Hawthorne invested money in an experimentalRead MoreJohn Proctor And The Scarlett Letter1299 Words   |  6 Pagesthis influenced early American society. Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s, The Scarlett Letter texts prevail the theme of Religion and Adultery. These particular authors wrote during the Puritan times and conveyed this time period in their texts while exploring the similarities and difference of Religion and Adultery in the Puritan Community. The Crucible’s protagonist John Proctor and The Scarlett Letter’s protagonist Hester Prynne are a part of a society with similar but differentRead MoreSymbolism Of Nathaniel Hawthorne s Scarlet Letter And The Minister s Black Veil 1083 Words   |  5 Pageshis writing counterparts, Nathaniel Hawthorne extensively uses symbolism in several of his major works to explore sin and human nature. The Scarlett Letter, â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† and â€Å"The Minister s Black Veil† are all vivid examples of this exploration and are the focus of this analysis. Before discussing his works, it is important to explore Hawthorne’s background to better understand how they connect to his writing and to his use of dark romanticism. Hawthorne came from Puritan ancestry. 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Thus resulting in the Romanticism literary movement for their desire of a literature that was all American. The Scarlett Letter written by Nathaniel Hawthorne who during the 19th century

Mythology

Mythology- Romulus And Remus Essay Mythology-Romulus and RemusA myth is a complex cultural phenomenonthat can be approached from a number of viewpoints (Mythology). Mythologicalcreatures are usually developed to explain something or to give a reasonwhy something exists. Most Gods have a supernatural power or force, whichmakes them a God. Some mythological heroes are known as divinities, forthe great things they have done. Romulus and Remus are two of the mostwell known mythological divinities, they were born of a vestal virgin,and they were the mythological founders of Rome. Of all mythological creatures Romulus isone of the better known. They were seen as the mythological creators ofRome. The citizens of Rome worshipped Romulus and Remus because they werebelieved to have created the city. They were made up to explain the mysteriousappearance of Rome. Overall they are two of the most famous mythologicalcreations. Romulus and Remus were born into an unforeseenset of circumstances. They were born of the Vestal Virgin, Rhea and theGod of war, Mars. King Amulius sent them down the Tiber River so he wouldbe able to deny their death, but they did not die. They were found by ashe-wolf and a bird that fed and nurtured them to health. They were laterfound by a shepard, Faustulas, who brought them home to his wife Acca. Faustulas and Acca then raised them until they were strong adults. Romulus and Remus were made up to explainthe creation of Rome. Romulus and Remus founded the city of Rome on theplace where they were to be drowned (Rosenburg 113). To name the town,since neither one was older they decided to split up and see who saw thefirst sign. Six vultures, the bird of Mars, flew over Remuss head, momentslater twelve vultures flew over Romuluss head. Romulus was the true victor(Mythology:Romulus). The city Rome was named after Romulus (Jay 60). A fewyears later while arguing over plans for the city, Romulus killed Remus. Romulus was the roman leader for forty more years until the Gods killedhim. Moreover, they were greatly known and appreciated for what they developedand stood for. These Gods and Goddesses were born, fellin love, fought with one another, and generally behaved like their humanworshipers (Littleton 813). The people of Rome made up these creaturesto give them answers but at the same time they gave the world one moregreat story. Romulus and Remus were strong heroes who built a great divinityout of nothing. In conclusion, Romulus and Remus were great names in mythology,were abandoned at birth and were the creators of the great city of Rome.