Realism and Idealism - Essay Example

Idealism is the tendency of an individual to believe in things as they should be. Realism, on the other hand, takes things as they are instead of how they ought to exist. The bourgeoisie is an example of realism. Even though it is not proper for a group of rich individuals to take advantage of the paupers to make supernormal profits, the fact remains that they do exist and will exist for a long time to come. Even though the workers work tirelessly in the firms, they do not get to enjoy the benefits of their works.

Idealism, on the other hand, can be related to the letter by Courbet. Ideally, art should come from within an individual but this does not happen and instead, art is taught in schools. 1. Letter to a group of students: CourbetCourbet asserts that art cannot be taught and that it should come from inside an individual and should be an expression of the artists towards the things that surround him. In the same way, a person from another generation cannot accurately form an art of either the previous or he next generation.

It is impossible to do so since an artist can only draw accurately what they experience. 2. Eyes of the poor: BaudelaireFrom this reading, it is clear that everyone knows their place in the society. The poor are aware that there are places they can only admire from afar but not get into. Even children are conscious of the poverty and the lanes that they should maintain. The children stare with amazement at how beautiful the building is yet the narrator had already exclaimed that it was unfinished.

Further, the other guest is uncomfortable at the sight of the poor family and asks the companion to request the manager to send them away. 3. Communist ManifestoThe world has had a class struggle from time immemorial. There are those who own factors of production and those that work for the rich to earn a living. The bourgeoises are the rich in the society who continue accumulating wealth at the expense of the poor. The society has become such a money-minded community that even the prestigious professions such as medicine and engineering are focused on making money rather than helping the people.

The proletariats, on the other hand, are the workers who work for the bourgeoises for a living. Once in a while they attempt to join hands so that they can have fair dealings with the bourgeoises. The strength of their unions and their demands is highly dependent on whether they will remain unified in the long run. For the proletariats to have a fair share in the society, they need to keep on fighting for their rights.4. A doll’s house: IbsenA doll’s house is about a woman who leaves her husband and children to discover herself.

Women were meant to be under their husbands authority, and the men had the final say. At the time, women could not be themselves since the rules they had to live by were made from a male point of view. The play in one way or another encourages people to discover themselves so they can offer the best.