Romance and Realism: Taste and Class
►Romance
►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.