Realism in Literature and Its Use in Anton Chekhov’s “Ward No.

6”

Realism is a style of writing that aims to show life truthfully and honestly, without exaggeration or romantic ideas. It
became popular in the 19th century as a response to Romanticism, which focused on imagination, emotion, and
heroic characters. In contrast, realism focuses on everyday people, real problems, and ordinary life. Realist writers
believe that even the quiet, simple parts of life deserve attention. The philosopher Georg Lukács said that realism
helps us understand the full picture of human life by focusing on real social situations rather than dreams or
ideals.
Realism plays a powerful role in literature. It allows readers to see society as it really is and encourages them to
think about problems like poverty, injustice, mental illness, and the failure of institutions. Realist writers don’t offer
easy solutions or perfect endings. Instead, they show how people try to survive in a difficult world. This idea is also
seen in the work of philosophers like Søren Kierkegaard and Jean-Paul Sartre, who believed that people must face
life’s challenges and make meaning for themselves, even when life feels confusing or unfair.
Writers use realism by creating detailed, believable settings, characters with both strengths and flaws, and plots that
feel natural, not forced. They use plain, honest language to show how life really is. Writers like George Eliot in
Middlemarch and Gustave Flaubert in Madame Bovary used realism to explore complex emotions and social issues.
Fyodor Dostoevsky, especially in Notes from Underground, also explored the psychological struggles of people
living in an unfair society. In Russia, one of the greatest realist writers is Anton Chekhov. His story Ward No. 6 is
a powerful example of realism, where he shows the harsh conditions of a mental hospital and explores deep
questions about life, suffering, and injustice.
Chekhov begins Ward No. 6 by describing the hospital building in clear, realistic detail. He writes, “In the hospital
yard there stands a small lodge surrounded by a perfect forest of burdocks, nettles, and wild hemp… the steps at the
front-door are rotting away and overgrown with grass”. This image creates a strong feeling of neglect and sadness.
The hospital is not a place of healing but of suffering. This kind of honest description is similar to the work of
Charles Dickens in Bleak House, where he also shows how broken systems harm the poor. The philosopher Michel
Foucault, in Madness and Civilization, argued that places like hospitals and prisons often reflect how little society
values people who are seen as different or weak. Chekhov’s story clearly shows this same idea.
Inside the hospital, Ivan Dmitritch Gromov, a man who has become mentally ill. Gromov is one of the most realistic
and tragic characters in the story. He was once an intelligent man, but after years of poverty, fear, and bad luck, he
becomes paranoid and depressed. He worries about being falsely accused and arrested. Chekhov writes, “A judicial
mistake is very possible… and there is nothing to be wondered at in it”. This shows that Gromov’s fears are not just
madness—they are based on real problems in society. Dostoevsky also showed this kind of psychological fear in his
characters. The modern philosopher Albert Camus described life as absurd, meaning that people often search for
meaning in a world that is cold and unfair. Gromov’s fear and suffering are powerful examples of this.
Realism also appears in the way Chekhov shows violence and power in the hospital. The porter, Nikita, beats the
patients cruelly. He believes this is the only way to keep order. The story says, “He showers blows on the face, on
the chest, on the back… and is convinced that there would be no order in the place if he did not”. This shows how
people can be cruel and still believe they are doing the right thing. Philosopher Hannah Arendt called this the
“banality of evil,” meaning that ordinary people can commit terrible acts simply by following rules without thinking
about right or wrong. Chekhov’s realistic writing shows how such cruelty becomes normal in places like this
hospital.
One of the most important parts of Ward No. 6 is the conversation between Gromov and Dr. Ragin. Gromov asks,
“Why am I and these poor wretches to be shut up here… while you and your hospital rabble go free?”. The doctor
answers that it’s just chance. This shows how unfair life can be. The philosopher Schopenhauer believed that life is
full of pain and has no real meaning. Dr. Ragin seems to believe this too, but Gromov still has hope. He says, “The
dawn of a new life is at hand… God be your help, friends!”. This shows that even in suffering, some people still
believe in justice and a better future. The two men have opposite views—one gives up, the other keeps believing.
This balance of ideas is one of the strengths of realism: it doesn’t tell us what to think, but shows us different sides
of life.
Chekhov also refuses to give the reader a happy ending. Gromov stays in the hospital, Dr. Ragin ends up as a patient
himself, and nothing really improves. This is the same in Tolstoy’s The Death of Ivan Ilyich, where the main
character faces death alone and realizes how empty his life has been. Both writers use realism to show the sadness
and truth of life, not to comfort us, but to help us see things clearly.
In conclusion, Ward No. 6 is a powerful example of literary realism. Anton Chekhov uses realistic settings, honest
characters, and deep conversations to show the truth about suffering, injustice, and human nature. His story connects
with the ideas of philosophers like Kierkegaard, Foucault, Camus, and Schopenhauer. Chekhov does not try to offer
easy answers. Instead, he invites the reader to think deeply about life, truth, and how we treat each other. Through
realism, Ward No. 6 reminds us that literature can open our eyes to the pain and beauty of the real world.