Prior to the late 1800s, the majority of America's literature was what was called Romantic. Romantic writing emphasized emotions of all sorts--not just those involving love--but eventually did become soap opera-like in nature.

However, as the century came to a close, Darwin's theory of evolution, the rise of factories, and the grim nature of city life produced a change in American literature. Novelists began to examine social problems such as slums and political corruption. This new way of writing about the world became known as Realism.

In your opinion, should literature focus on providing an escape--no matter how unrealistic--from ordinary life the way Romanticism did, or should it do what Realism sought to do, which was to portray everyday life as it really is, with all its flaws and imperfections?

Please make sure you expand on this topic. Include the main points regarding this discussion. It should be interesting, entertaining, etc. The subject is History.