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  • Essay / Obsessive Love - 2402

    Obsessive LoveHere on Earth, written by Alice Hoffman, is a story about everyday life that belongs to the literary period of realism. Realism is often described as a literary movement that presents life in a very practical way. Usually, works of this literary period contain characterization and plot as similar as possible to what is found in everyday life. Donna M. Campbell states: “Broadly defined as an accurate representation of reality or verisimilitude, realism is a literary technique practiced by many schools of writing” (Realism in American Literature, 1860-1890). Some characteristics of realism in American literature, stated by Richard Chase in The American Novel and Its Tradition, include that the characters are the most important in the storyline and are heavily influenced by their social class (quoted in Realism in American Literature, 1860-1890).In Here on Earth, we clearly see how social class affects the lives of the characters; especially how it affects Hollis. Since childhood, he has been constantly judged because of his past and continues to be judged as an adult for how he became rich so quickly and mysteriously. This novel features events and actions seen daily in this world, such as infidelity, abuse, alcoholism, and suicide, making it clear that the storyline may actually be a representation of the present days and generations. this novel, Alice Hoffman, is commonly known for its well-developed characterization, choice and use of language, and realistic plot events. Born in New York on March 16, 1952, Hoffman became a very distinguished novelist. She attended Adelphi University and later Stanford University's Creative Writer...... middle of article......=3&sq=heathcliff%20redux&st= >.Fried, Kerry . “Practical magic.” The Boston Review. April/May 1995. March 24, 2010. < http://www.bostonreview.net/BR20.2/Fried.html>. “Biography”. Alicehoffman.com. 2010. March 15, 2010.<http://www.alicehoffman.com/hoffman-bio.htm>.Maryles, Daisy. "Here on Oprah". Publishers Weekly. March 9, 1998. March 24, 2010. < http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/415634-PW_Here_On_Oprah.php?q=here+on+earth+alice+hoffman >.Brooks, Peter. “DeVane Lectures to Explore Literary and Artistic Realism.” January 17, 2003. Vol. 31, Number 15. .Campbell, Donna M. “Realism in American Literature, 1860-1890.” » Literary movements. Department of English, Washington State University. March 21, 2010. < http://www.wsu.edu/~campbelld/amlit/realism.htm >. March 25 2010.