Honors Theses
Date of Award
Spring 5-7-2026
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
English
First Advisor
Cristin Ellis
Second Advisor
Andrew Donnelly
Third Advisor
Almas Khan
Relational Format
Thesis
Abstract
This thesis follows parallel legal and literary arcs towards “Realism.” While these two movements do not have the exact same timeline, they both characterized the 19th century. This thesis intertwines the literary shift towards writing that more closely resembles reality with the legal realist aim at a justice that more closely relates to its society. As we look at three novels from the 19th century, we will see how the change in literary form relates to a change in legal philosophy as the popular literary style and goal was later formalized by the law. In our study of each novel, the method of characterization is used to display whether the author is employing literary realism, which also translates to the author’s prescription of how justice is best served. As characters grow more complex, so do the worlds that they live in; as this happens, the acquisition of justice becomes more complicated for those characters and for us as readers. Each author moves us towards more literary realism and thus towards a more complex solution that effectively informs our understanding of justice in society. While this thesis does not tackle the fullness of either legal Formalism or Realism, it does seek to pair that movement towards Realism with the literary movement towards Realism in order to grasp the shift in philosophy that is displayed throughout these three novels.
Recommended Citation
Clark, Isabella R., "The Rise of Realism and the Search for Justice in 19th Century Literature" (2026). Honors Theses. 3574.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/3574