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The realist movement in literature exerted a profound influence on the literature of France, Russia, England, and the United States in the mid- to late-nineteenth century. Political events and social reforms in these countries led to a sudden rejection of Romantic idealism. The beliefs of Charles Darwin and Karl Marx influenced a change in social and independent thought, questioning religious, political, and economic beliefs. This guide explores how the realist movement manifested in theatrical productions in the late 1800s and the typical techniques used by playwrights.

Terminology

• Naturalism: a movement in European drama and theatre that developed in the late 19th that seeks to mirror life completely truthfully.
• Verisimilitude: the truthful and believable representation of reality within a theatrical form.

Key Dates & Events

• 1828 - 1906 - Life of Henrik Ibsen
• 1828 - 1910 - Life of Leo Tolstoy
• 1856 - 1950 - Life of George Bernard Shaw
• 1860 - 1904 - Life of Anton Chekhov
• 1863 - 1938 - Life of Konstantin Stanislavski
• 1879 - A Doll's House premiered at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark.
• 1888 - 1953 - Life of Eugene O'Neill
• 1898 - The Moscow Art Theatre was founded by Konstantin Stanislavski and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko.