II -Memories and Portraits

In “Memories and Portraits,” the writer delves into the essence and methodology of novel writing, emphasizing that novels are not mere transcripts of life but rather focused simplifications of certain aspects of life. This simplification, as argued, is what constitutes a novel’s merit—highlighting that complexity in character and plot, often admired in works by great authors, is underpinned by a foundational simplicity that contributes to their excellence.

The discussion transitions to the contemporary literary scene, highlighting Mr. W. D. Howells, a novelist noted for his narrow convictions and an insular focus on his and his contemporaries’ works. Howells is portrayed as a purist of his literary school, enthralled by the progression in art comparable to advancements in science and dismissive of past literary forms. Despite his adherence to the day’s orthodoxies, which the writer deems no less trivial than those of any other era, Howells’ work is recognized for its inherent romantic quality and distinctions—even when it diverges from his own principles—and is appreciated for the very unorthodoxy he consciously shuns.

The essay critiques Howells’ excessive pursuit of the ‘centrally human’ at the expense of individual uniqueness, arguing for the value of the exceptional, personal, and the irregular in enriching literary works. It suggests that in striving to capture what is normative or typical, there runs the risk of producing works that are devoid of life and relevance—essentially, risking the vital essence of romance and individuality in literature.

The text implies a call for balance between the individualistic and the universal, the exceptional and the normal, cautioning against the reduction of literature to societal norms and advocating for the embrace of personal insight and romantic ideals as legitimate subjects of literary exploration. Such a balance, it suggests, is essential for the true romance of man to flourish in literature, beyond the confines of societal expectations and literary norms.