Darwin published The Origin of Species in 1859 and created a worldwide stir which exists to this day. Darwin suggests that life developed gradually from common ancestry and that life favored "survival of the fittest." The three implications of Darwin's theory were: 1. People were controlled by heredity and environment. 2. Behaviors were beyond our control. 3. Humanity is a natural object, rather than being above all else. Of course many people disagreed with Darwin and his beliefs. In the play Inherit the Wind, by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Lee, a teacher is put on trial for teaching his class about Darwin and evolution. Stories like these only begin to describe the people who dared to write, support, and practice realism. Realism refers to any play, novel, or idea that tries to create an illusion of a real place. Realistic plays were trying to make a real room with one wall

From the scientific views of Darwin to the creative interpretations of Ibsen, it is obvious that the nineteenth century was a time of change and growing. Men like these changed the common view and refined their techniques so that the minds of today would be more open to revolutionize their thinking, their attitudes, and their way of life.

Today, 21st-century television, movies, and theatre are filled with both naturalism and realism. The modern-day soap opera filled with sex, lies, and promiscuity is often reflected in plays of the past like Arthur Schnitzler's La Ronde. It is apparent that people like what is natural and what is real. They find it comforting to know that they are not the only one in that position. And though now and then we all like to see fantasy and fiction, it is good to see a play that will make us pay attention to the troubles of our fellow man as in Gerhart Hauptman's play The Weavers which displays the cruelties of man upon his neighbor. This play shows us what happens when the rich take advantage of the poor, and what can happen when large groups are unorganized and uncontrolled.

removed. These plays were set in real places and with scientific study of real life. The plots had neither villains nor exotic heroes, but real people with there real problems not dreams or fantasies. This new movement was due to the founders turning away from the old romantic view of the world that to the realist seem foolish and unreachable. Though realism was not accepted by many and was considered absurd, it caught on quickly and soon paved the way for a much deeper wave of realism that was called Naturalism. This new form of realis

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Robert Lee, Zola French, Doll's House, Origin Species, Cherry Orchard, Gerhart Hauptman's, Chekhov Chekhov, Seagull MAT, Peer Gynt, , heredity environment, idea people,
Approximate Word count = 1122
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)