Literary Annotation #6

Wells, Gerald K. "The Phoenix Symbol in "The Rise of Silas Lapham"" South Atlantic Bulletin 40.2 (1975): 10-14. JSTOR. Web. 20 Sept. 2012.

            Gerald Wells describes Silas Lapham’s ascent and defeat as that of a phoenix. Despite the early realist writers’ reluctant use of symbols, due to the desire to represent ideas through life events, The Rise of Silas Lapham author Howells uses the phoenix to show realistic movement and structure of death and rebirth. Silas goes through a continued cycle of life, death and rebirth starting with his rise at the start of the novel and his rebirth with a new life on his farm at the close. With each up and down, Silas’ social climb till the disastrous dinner party and burning of his new house or his close relationship with his wife and advice to her moral fall and loss of trust, Wells claims emphasizes this symbol. This illustrates a continued possible hopeful outcome. The knowledge of restoration after a downfall is a guide for life, novel structure, and a new addition to realism.

Literary Annotation #5

Pizer, Donald. "Late Ninteenth-Century American Realism: An Essay in Deffinition." Ninteenth-Century Fiction 16.3 (1961): 263-69. JSTOR. Web. 19 Sept. 2012.

            Donald Pizer argues that the late 19^th century American realism, having previously been criticized for showing scenes of unrealistic commonplace life, is not only not idealized or common but, through the characters experiences, shows realism’s strength and energy as well as the promise of future growth. He branches off George J. Becker’s definition of realism, as resulting from observation, representation, and objectiveness, to say that the diversity goes beyond representation and realism, while being idealistic, is also personal and containing vigor. He states that Howells has his character contend with evils of a more commonplace manner, his former business partner and the jeopardies of trying to climb the social ladder. He writes that Silas’ rise above his neighbors is idealistic in that morality is a private belief of the way life should be rather than the way it truly is. Mark Twain on the other hand exemplifies the diversity that realism can take. Twain examine the possibilities of “the fiction of external violence and interior monologue.” Through these ideas, the reader is able to understand that realism is more than spoken dialogue and the tedious day to day events. With Howell and Twain, realism is objective but personal, common but full of vitality. Authors are able to use these and Twain’s venture into the inner monologue instead to continue to grow and develop the meaning of realism in our twenty-first century works.

Literary Annotation #4

Nettels, Elsa. "Language, Race, and Social Class in Howell's America." Modern Language Quarterly 49.1 (1988): 80-82. Web. 19 Sept. 2012.

Elsa Nettels focuses on the language and speech patterns found in Howells’ “Rise of Silas Lapham.” Throughout the novel Howell helps divide and accentuate each social class from their use of English. The upper class Corey’s are very controlled in speaking, using proper sentence structure and pronunciation. Silas’ speech in ungrammatical and rural but, even still, Silas acts with the most honor and with a stronger sense of morality than the aristocratic speaking Mr. and Mrs. Corey. Nettels outlines how with this idea Howell shows that even the most “uncultured,” by upper class standing, person despite their syntax should not be discredited, “the highest standards of speech need not predicate the highest standards of culture.”

Literary Annotation #3

Dooley, Patrick. "Nineteenth Century Business Ethics and the Rise of Silas Lapham." Journals.ku.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2012.

In Patrick Dooley’s Nineteenth Century Business Ethics and The Rise of Silas Lapham, he argues that Howells goal in writing “The Rise of Silas Lapham” was to educate readers on the sense of morality. He was “attempting to change theory in novel writing and ethical practices in business.” This idea did not go over well with the early Boston readers who could identify the love story plot ignoring what Dooley calls the “bankruptcy plot,” unable to find any moral lesson. Howell attributes this to reviewers being strictly Bostonian men. Dooley states that the early readers lacked awareness of the changing morality. They were not able to link business with ethics and found the plot to be simply financial instead of a rise in morality. Howells teaches about a necessary ethics in business practice and the affect upon a person’s sense of moral ideals. He set out to change the way the stubborn Boston men and modern readers views upon business practices.

Literary Annotation #2

Coffin, Tristram P. "Daisy Miller, Western Hero." Western Folklore 17.4 (1958): 273-75. JSTOR. Web. 18 Sept. 2012.

            Daisy Miller is a western hero, according to Tristram Coffin. Though he admits that Daisy was not written with the west in mind, she developed the personality traits that identifies with western culture at the time. The western hero embodies the ideas of independence, morality, innocence according to Coffin, which he claims can all be found in Daisy. She is outgoing and independent, willing to rely on her own judgment and befriends young men in defiance to society. Daisy Miller can become somewhat of a role model to female readers. Though she lacks sense and maturity she teaches those to not be afraid to go against old society standards but to still maintain standards and an ability to ask for help or else suffer from Daisy’s demise.

Literary Annotation #1

Barnett, Louise K. "Jamesian Feminism: Women In 'Daisy Miller'." Studies In Short Fiction 16.4 (1979): 281. Academic Search Complete. Web. 21 Sept. 2012.

Louise Barnnet discusses gender roles and society’s oppression upon women in James’ “Daisy Miller.” The story explores the restrictions that society has placed upon European women and continuously tests them through the main character Daisy. As the young American challenges rules by openly walking with strange men without a chaperone, Mrs. Costello, Winterbourne’s aunt moves in the opposite direction. She seeks a reclusive life away from the restraints of society and her maternal role with her older children and their families. Daisy continues to be the most stubborn and independent of “James’ many freedom-seeking heroines, a resister of patriarchal authority.” He contrasts her want of freedom with the imprisonment of the other ladies in their insignificant social circles.  Through this view, James set up society rich with characters of all personalities, each one struggling with their own societal conflict. By contrasting Daisy with the other bitter and oppressed characters like Mrs. Costello, Mrs. Walker, or even insecure Mrs. Miller one can understand the importance of not following the strict rules of society. Despite Daisy’s outcome, she was able to spend her time living free of criticism and enjoying life.