Romance and Realism: Taste and
Class
►
Romance
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Aspired to the ideal
►
Thought to be more
genteel since it did not
show the vulgar details
of life
►
Realism
►
Thought to be more
democratic
►
Critics stressed the
potential for vulgarity
and its emphasis on
the commonplace
►
Potential “poison” for
the pure of mind
A common complaint is that realistic works forced readers into proximity with people whom they would never invite for dinner.