Rebecca Harding Davis and Realism "Life in the Iron Mills"
Introduction
Rebecca Harding Davis is often seen as an important figure in American literature due to her influence in helping to pioneer the literary realism movement. Her novella, "Life in the Iron Mills," which was published in 1861, is a work of literary realism that gives readers a detailed and often gritty, unvarnished look at the bleak lives of industrial workers in the mid-19th century. Davis explores this world of the iron mills through experiences of a downtrodden mill worker, and in this way exposes the harsh realities of poverty and class oppression that pervaded the industrial environment in her time. The use of literary realism is useful in social critiquing because it sheds light on the human condition within these mills and helps readers to realize the structures that perpetuate such conditions. Daviss use of realism in "Life in the Iron Mills" depicts the industrial life and class disparity, setting a precedent for the exploration of social issues in American literature. With her novella, she challenged the romanticized narratives of her time and helped set a course for a serious shift towards literary realism that more deeply looked at social issues and the human suffering related to them.
Historical Context and Davis's Literary Realism
The 19th century was a period of rapid industrialization in America. There was a magnificent rise of factories and the expansion of mill towns. This era saw enormous economic growth, so not everyone realized the poor conditions that workers in these mill towns actually endured so that the country itself could be more prosperous. These factories and towns often set the stage for the big class divisions where the plight of the labor force subjected to grueling work in deplorable conditions went on unseen by the public at large.
Within this historical context, Davis's work appeared as a critical narrative that brought to the forefront the overlooked lives of industrial workers (Rose). Her realism was
This was something of a shock like what Upton Sinclair would later do with the meat-packing industry in The Jungle.
Literary realism, as a movement, sought to depict life as it was, rather than as it should be, and thus focused on the everyday experiences of ordinary people like those found in the iron mills. Daviss "Life in the Iron Mills" embodies this approach by giving a stark, realistic portrayal of the physical and emotional toll exacted on workers. This approach was a mirror of the historical realities of her time and it achieved the broader objectives of realism, to...
…realities of 19th-century industrial America. And in so doing, she wrote a work that focuses on the lives of mill workers, Davis brought attention to the overlooked and undervalued, highlighting the harsh impacts of industrialization on human lives. Her work remains a significant literary piece, reflecting on
themes that continue to resonate in contemporary discussions about class disparities and labor rights. Daviss narrative challenges the romanticized versions of American progress and industrial success, advocating for a more nuanced understanding of the human costs involved. Ultimately, her realistic portrayal of life in the iron mills serves as a crucial
critique of the
status quo, influencing future literary trends and continuing to inspire a critical examination of socio-economic conditions.
Works Cited
Rose, J. A. "Reading 'Life in the Iron-Mills' Contextually: A Key to Rebecca Harding Davis's
Fiction." Conversations: Contemporary Critical Theory and the Teaching of Literature, 1990, ERIC.
Schocket, E. Discovering Some New Race: Rebecca Harding Davis's 'Life in the Iron Mills'
and the Literary Emergence of Working-Class Whiteness." PMLA, vol. 115, no. 5, 2000, pp. 1234-1247. Cambridge University Press.
Seitler, D. "Strange Beauty: The Politics of Ungenre in Rebecca Harding Davis's Life in the Iron
Mills." American Literature, vol. 86, no. 3, 2014, pp. 523-551. Duke University Press.
Watson, W. L. "'These mill-hands are gettin' unbearable': The Logic of Class Formation in 'Life
in the Iron Mills' by Rebecca Harding Davis." Women's Studies Quarterly, vol. 26, no. 1/2, 1998, pp.…
