Why is Editha by William Dean Howells regarded as a realist text?

Answer 1

Editha is considered a realist text because

A) It focuses on the individual- Editha is the title of the play and protagonist.

B) It expresses the evolution within the story from Editha's Romantic Idealism of War to George's Mother's realist perspective of its horrors.

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.