Realism in "I Will Fight No More"

“I Will Fight No More” by Chief Joseph is a very important literary work for the genre of Realism. Its style exemplifies Realism, as it is very simple and almost monotonous. There is still strong emotion and descriptions to get the point across, but the sentence structure is very straightforward making statements without extra information to make it artistic. The statement, although of defeat focuses on the more human side of a Native American. He is portrayed as a common person that is mourning the death of his fellow Chiefs and only wants the fighting to end. All of these characteristics make this statement made by Chief Joseph a work of the literary genre of Realism.

The simple writing style used in this short statement is the first characteristic that makes it a part of the genre of Realism. All of the sentences are simple and to the point. Each makes a statement concerning the different topics that Chief Joseph wanted to speak about, whether it is the death of the other members of his tribe, his concern for the children, or his main want to end the fighting as a whole with General Howard (Joseph 533). A simple style is often the basis for a work of Realism because the structure is one of the best ways to convey a message (Anderson). This can be seen in this work because Chief Joseph states all of the things that he is feeling, his concerns, and what he wants done without the use of any complex language or writing style. Although the style is simple, there is no lack of emotion and passion because each simple sentence is extremely powerful in it conveying of Chief Joseph’s messages about the ending of the battling.

The common hero is the most usual protagonist for most works of Realism. The main character is most often an average, middle-class hero (Anderson). This is not exactly the case with this short work, but there are some similarities. Although Chief Joseph could be considered an extraordinary, amazing hero during his time fighting, he has almost been reduced to an average person in his surrender and wishes to end the fighting (Joseph 533). His wish to end all of the fighting makes him out to be an average person that just wants to stop the death around him and protect his people. The situation that he is put in almost brings him down from powerful, unbeatable war hero to a regular human being that is concerned with what is best for all of his people.

These characteristics are what make this short speech of Chief Joseph a part of the genre of Realism. Even though there is a very simple writing style used throughout the entire work, there is no lack of passion and emotion with every sentence that is delivered. Along with that, the main character is reduced to a regular, average person rather than a great war hero, but he is only doing what is best for his people. This speech delivered by Chief Joseph is an excellent example of all of the characteristics of Realism.


Works Cited

Anderson, George P., Judith S. Baughman, Matthew J. Bruccoli, and Carl Rollyson, eds."regionalism." Encyclopedia of American Literature: Into the Modern: 1896–1945, vol. 3, Revised Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. Online. http://fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= EAmL1330&SingleRecord=True. February 13, 2011.

Chief Joseph. "I Will Fight No More." Glencoe American Literature. comp. Wilhelm, Jeffery. McGraw Hill. Columbus, OH. 2009. pg. 533.