THE DIALECTICS OF FREEDOM AND DETERMINISIM IN NINETEENTH-CENTURY ENGLISH REALISM

Abstract

This study examines the dynamic interplay between freedom and determinism in nineteenth-century English realist literature. The century witnessed industrial expansion, scientific development, and the rise of social awareness-all of which influenced the perception of human agency. By analyzing the works of major realist authors such as Charles Dickens, George Eliot, and Thomas Hardy, the research investigates how the tension between individual choice and external constraints shaped literary expression. Using historical-literary and analytical approaches, the paper explores how realist fiction portrays the individual’s struggle to preserve moral autonomy within a society governed by deterministic forces.