Editha themes. Literary Realism in Editha 2023-01-01

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Editha is a short story written by William Dean Howells in the late 19th century. The story follows the character of Editha, a young woman who becomes engaged to a man named George Gearson. Throughout the story, several themes are explored, including patriotism, gender roles, and the consequences of war.

One of the main themes in Editha is patriotism. Editha is a strong and vocal supporter of the American government and its actions, including the ongoing Spanish-American War. She sees the war as a necessary and righteous endeavor, and is willing to sacrifice herself and others for the cause. However, her patriotism is not fully understood or appreciated by her fiancé, George, who is more skeptical and critical of the war. This conflict between Editha and George highlights the different ways that people can view and express their patriotism, and how these views can be at odds with each other.

Another theme in Editha is the role of gender in society. Editha is depicted as a strong and confident woman, who is not afraid to speak her mind and express her opinions. However, she is also shown to be somewhat naive and impulsive, and is ultimately unable to fully understand or appreciate the complexities and consequences of the war. This portrayal of Editha speaks to the societal expectations placed on women at the time, and the ways in which they were often seen as inferior to men.

A final theme in Editha is the consequences of war. Throughout the story, Editha remains convinced that the war is necessary and just, and that it will bring about a positive outcome for the country. However, as the story progresses, it becomes clear that the war is causing suffering and death, and that it is not as straightforward as Editha had originally believed. This realization forces Editha to confront the reality of war and its consequences, and to reevaluate her beliefs and values.

In conclusion, Editha is a story that explores several complex and thought-provoking themes, including patriotism, gender roles, and the consequences of war. These themes are explored through the characters of Editha and George, and offer a poignant commentary on the society of the time.

Realism in Editha Essay on

editha themes

When George announces that there is war, Editha surprises her lover and audience by saying "how glorious. Before it seemed as if she could have written, there came news of the first skirmish, and in the list of the killed, which was telegraphed as a trifling loss on our side, was Gearson's name. Come to think about it, war that has occurred in the past brought only horror and destruction. But he was peculiar, and he might very well be reasoned out of his peculiarity. The majority, like Editha, in the face of a threat to their uniform ideals, simply push past and continue on in the name of patriotism and blind allegiance to what could possibly be unveiled as a morally unjust cause. Only briefly is Editha unsettled by war.


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Realism and Naturalism in Howell's "Editha"

editha themes

I'm in for the thing now, and we've got to face our future. I only knew him from my mother's report of him and his opinions; I don't know whether they were hers first; but they were hers last. The fact that the original setting is so diversely opposite to that if the war setting, the harsh reality of the horror of war is demonstrated. This saves the theme to your PC and puts it on your desktop. Neil finds himself in a difficult situation upon learning that his father has enlisted himself in the army. Moreover, although the characters are presented as ordinary, they experience a number of complex dilemmas. Editha herself grieves for a while over George but ultimately still believes that her perspective on the war was correct.

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Realism In 'Editha' by William Dean Howells

editha themes

Another, much less explored theme that is evident in this story is the role of genders at that time period. Don't you think so, too? He has written more than one hundred books. However, Terry was not merely a writer, but she was a talented writer. I wrote it after you went this morning. Work Cited Howells, William Dean. Editha also believes that George's ability to show courage proves his worthiness of her, and makes him the kind of man she would prefer to marry.

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Editha, by William Dean Howells Essay

editha themes

Literary Realism in Editha After World War I, American people and the authors among them were disillusioned by the effects that war had on their society. After all, he is her only son. They would be extremely descriptive and not forget any small detail. Editha sits on a porch convincing George to fight in the war. Another reason why this work is a perfect example of a realistic story is how the author portrays moral issues that the main characters become entangled in. She has a long conversation with George to convince him why he should go to the war.

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“Editha”: William Dean Howells’ Reflection of America: [Essay Example], 1910 words GradesFixer

editha themes

After all, they are both interdependent with one another; they both need one another. For Editha, George's exuberance is a change from his usual tentative manner. That actress is Ellen Terry. For some, knowing the war will be their future provides a reason for living, but for others the war represents the snatching of their lives without their consent. He believed in truthful writing and he accepted very little at face value.

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An Analysis of the Story Editha

editha themes

He represents the minority of America in this way due to the fact that he uses reasoning to back up his morals and his views instead of just following a blind idealistic path. Throughout his writings, Howells attempts to make his characters real with faults and fears as are commonly found in reality. No, I'll do the writing. Editha believes that a man should prove himself worthy of her. However, this essay focuses on one actress who did not share the same fate as most thespians.

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Editha Analysis

editha themes

She wrote to his mother glorifying him as their hero, but the brief answer she got was merely to the effect that Mrs. At this time in history, men were expected to go to war and like it. George reveals that war seems unreasonable to him. George is fearful of the war and he sees no glory in it. George has no other choice but to do this because they would have killed Lennie anyway. He looked well, in his uniform, and very soldierly, but somehow girlish, too, with his clean-shaven face and slim figure.

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Editha

editha themes

Even when he enlisted, she knew that he was not for him but for her. The newspapers she reads and what she hears are what inform her beliefs about war. Editha disagrees with the sentiment. He had said he would go and think it over, and she was not waiting. The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn is one of Mark Twain's best known books, but how is realism depicted in this story? Certainly, this short story tried to emphasize war as being beautiful and necessary for communal living. She surely never expected him to die, which is exactly what he did. Later on, Editha begs God to bring her lover back to her even if he has lost an arm like his father.

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Analysis

editha themes

The blind support and romanticized feelings towards war represent the belief and the idealistic version of war that most people think of when they hear of war. All the while, in her duplex emotioning, she was aware that now at the very beginning she must put a guard upon herself against urging him, by any word or act, to take the part that her whole soul willed him to take, for the completion of her ideal of him. She is further set up as a villain when she goes to visit Mrs. If anything happens to me--" "Oh, George! Eventually, all of his friends die, and even Paul too, dies. Being a devout Christian, conflict and struggle are among the first and foremost matters that we want to abolish. After all, she was fascinated by the idea that a man should do something courageous to earn the love of a woman Howells, 2015, p.

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