The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-01-05
NOveIs--Thcir Meaning and Mission.

We have some gleanngs-and valuable ones
we think them-trom an article on this subject IN
Futnam's Magazine. Almost every one who finds
any delight in literature in:ersperses graver studies
with novel readiDg-bD: few reflect upon the
meaning and mission of novels. Nor are those
who raise an QUERY against them always aware
of what they are denouncng. The author from
whom we quote says:
Nothing is more easy or gratuitous than the
v4tUperatlve condemnation and contempt that have
so often been lavished novels and novel writing.
They are "trash," yellow covered literature, -
"wlshy .washylsm, namDy- -pambyism," &C., &c.
lhe guardian makes 1t a point to keep his ward as
carefully from novel IRON the measles, and
would as lief that she would dose herself with
ratsbane as devour a romance Our venerated
ancestor (peace to his names), who, in early man.
hood, was so annoyed by the lirtatIons of his
gay younger sister, which seemed always to sue
ceed profound and long continued brooding over
the pages OF the novels sent her from London, had
one should say, some reason for cautioning US,
among his last words Of advice, 10 Beware Of
noves.''
Uncle Grey beard, too, imagines that he has
completely annhaed the whole tribe when he
utters "Pshaw!'' and something about vapid
sentimen;ahty," and "man- millinerism. True,
0 grave Greybeard, those which chiefly filled the
shelves of your village library were most deserv.
many heated press abors day and night to sati-
ate the public appetite for just such " trash"
The truth, however, ls. that the domain OF ro-
marce composition has been so materially ex-
tended within the last quarter of century, the
fields Of thought and feeling commented upoE
altered, and the style OF popular novels fifty years
ago, is totally false n its sweeping application to
Our present species. We have now no desire for
the extravagances of sentiment and action that,
with few brilliant exceptions, characterised En-.
glsh novels Of former times. On the other hand,
we disguised with such productions, and covet,
above all, the natural in thought and feeling.
What is wanted to constitute good modern novel,
Is not a monstrous asscmblage of grotesquely illu
slve pictures Of life and nature interlarded with
lnconceIvable sentiments, unheard Of adventures,
and impossible exploits. Not at all. We demand
that they be veritabe and veracious segments Of the
great life drama, dsplacing Nature and Man as
they are, sentiments as they felt, and deeds as
they are done. Novels are judged as Art pro.
ducts and as little sympathy is felt with the biz
nfreraeS that are heaped together, for the gratifca
ton Of very weak brains, as for the fantastic
adornings of Dutch house, or the architectural
proportions of Chinese pagoda.
The domain OF the novel ranges over the entire
field OF the real and the i'd cal, and thus touches at
every point OF mans consciousness in the evolu.
ton of individual character, and the development
OF human life and nature, in the actual phases.
And IN these points, 1t is Coordinate and cock.
tensive, at once, with poetry and the drama.
With poetry, in being veritable poiesis-an art.
creation; and with the drama, in its plan or plot
iii the lnvoluton of circumstances, character,
and passion, and :he evolution from the complex.
ty of these Efe.and-death commingling scenes Of
grand vital results and important practical lessons.
Thus, novels, especially those that are the trans.
cendent productions of the imag gination, take hold
Of everything that is in rapport with The infinite
IN man. Ihe artist who created them
"BuiIded better than he knew
or, in displaying the phenomenal, an en:icing
lint has, at times, been thrown out, that led on
With win.smiles 10 the home of the real one touch
If the human harp. chord the Infinite, has set |
hrIing The Eternal Meodies.'' For so it is,
hat everything in life has relation at once to the
ne and the not-me; and while the diverse car.
les the relative, the reverse bears the stamp of
he absolute.
The characteristic and the glory Of the new
chool Of noveists is, without doubt it's vigor and
arnes' veracity. AS we before observed, a quar-
er of century has had the effect Of completely
evolu'lonIzing this department: of literature By
ONE this happy movement is referred to the in
uence of one writer, and by others 10 another.
ome say Godwns L" Caleb Williams led the
way; others make Fielding its great prototype
nd so on. But the true secret of the new i'm.
ulse IS with greater probability to be sought for
I the more profoundly earnest spirit Of the age
80 much Tor the Gaming of novels. Their
llssion, we think, is paIpable enough. We sroke,
l the introduction, Of every desire and procvity
the mind being the prediction of its satisfac lion
! literature. Novels 1--WE think it will, bv this
me, be understood achot class we meaul are the
ling up and the satisfying of that in the soul
hlch otherwise would be blank and vacant.
And peculiarly are they the product Of this
neteenth era, when there is such fecundity and
lch an overflow of mental and physical life
hey are one of the " features of our age. We
1ow not what we should do without them And,
deed, there is class of writer's who, if they a
d not develop in this way, would find no other
ode of uterance whatever. How coulI Kings
y have written except through "Alton Locke c
I'd ' Yeast!" What vehicle could Dickens have a
und for the communication Of just his class of S
eas, but that of Nicholas Nickleby," of David
oPPerheld,' or OF & Hard Times p How could
hackery have given us his pictures of society, o
It through the camera Obscura of sc Vanity FAIR
d &c Pendennis," and ' The Newcomers 2" II
But still they (novels) not the whole of lit.
ature. Assurediy not no more than sauce ~.
ante mukes dinner, or the hours we spend in
'ularIty and abandon life. They are didactic
t 1t is philosophy wearing smiling face, and II
idIng out winning invitation. They are Utiie o G,
'thed IN the garb Of the Dulce. And in this u
lcet manner, they touch human consciousness VI
every possible point. They have already alb.
rbed every field Of interest AS picfures of life