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Although seemingly identical, recognition and realization are instead two distinct phenomena that are, however, closely related. Recognition implies a simple comprehension, as opposed to a deep understanding. It also suggests that the knowledge had been previously gained, and is now merely being acknowledged. On the other hand, realization is a sudden burst of understanding that implies that the subject was previously unknown.

A perfect example of the distinction between recognition and realization can be found in Heart of Darkness. When Marlowe gets to Africa he realizes the true destitution of the natives. The scene that especially highlights his epiphany is when he meets the well-dressed accountant who is living in luxury compared to the starving natives. Later, when Marlowe is on the boat manned by the natives, he recognizes how they are near starvation and could easily overwhelm him and the captain. Since the knowledge of their poor condition was not new, he was simply recognizing their famishment, as opposed to realizing it.

Another example of a profound realization occurs in a Farewell to Arms. Frederick is immediately introduced to war’s cruel nature when he is injured early on in the novel, and from that moment on his view of the war radically shifts. Frederick recognizes that war is not romantic and glorious, and instead is truly repulsive. It is fortunate of him to have realized this sad fact early on, for it came in handy to him when he was stopped at a checkpoint by the Italian army. Frederick was able to recognize that they were killing the deserters, and was able to escape into the river and avoid punishment. In short, realization is the process of understanding new knowledge, while recognition is merely referencing it.

Recognizing and Realizing the Consequences

Recognizing and Realizing the Consequences - Sydney Bernardo

Shakespeare time and time again depicted the effects of recognition and realization through his classic tragedies Othello, King Lear, and Julius Caesar. The universal truth embedded within these three plays and countless other literary works is that the two concepts come in a distinct chronological order and can bring either satisfaction or destruction. Though recognition entails an aspect of “memory recall” in which a person connects an idea or event to a past experience, it can ultimately lead to full understanding - also known as a realization - of a concept, completely changing his or her outlook on life. And as Adam and Eve learned in the Garden of Eden, understanding and knowledge bring their own consequences. The recognition of a realization too late, for example, causes disaster and brings about harmful consequences to overall “good” people such as Othello, who ultimately murders his innocent wife; and Marcus Brutus, whose trusting nature and dedication to the Republic leads him to betray and kill his friend. However, on a positive note, recognition of a realization also has the possibility of improving one’s life, as in the movie Tangled when Rapunzel recognizes the shape of a sun in each of her murals, leading her to the realization that she is the lost princess.

It is not so much that the two entities are different, but rather, that they complement each other, fleshing out and augmenting to the experience one attains. Whether this experience is necessarily good or bad has yet to be seen.

Question Response

Although recognition and realization superficially appear as vastly similar, almost interchangeable, terms, their definitions contain key divisions that manifest in nuanced but significant instances. The most basic difference appears in the chronology associated with the meanings of realization and recognition. A realization implies the genesis of a thought or connection, and recognition implies the identification of a previously known entity. In the classic Greek tragedy, Oedipus’ famous moment of anagnorisis highlights the chronological separation of recognition and realization; he recognizes the familiar tale of a baby with pierced ankles, which prefaces his original realization that he has killed his father and married his mother. Recognition must stem from the identification of something previously known, while realization needs no chronological precursor and constitutes the creation of original thought. Yet, this fundamental distinction frequently appears blurred, especially regarding the issue of self-conscious thoughts. Isn’t it possible to recognize something for the first time? But, that sounds a lot like a realization… Recognition can happen even if the previous familiarity exists without conscious knowledge and conscious realization can follow a long time after the first unconscious illumination. Strangely, the unconscious aspects of recognition and realization show up regularly in everyday life and popular culture. Vague feelings of previous familiarity strike quite frequently and often lead to “spontaneous” recognition, a situation most commonly known as déjà vu. A multitude of high profile movies utilize the notion of the delayed conscious realization; the main character finally realizes their best friend is their true love (e.g. Spiderman, Iron Man, Harry Potter). Although the interplay between recognition and realization can become convoluted, the underlying distinction is that recognition must stem from previous familiarity while realization is the creation of a new thought or connection.

Blog #1

In your opinion (not Webster's), what is the difference and/or relationship between recognition and realization? Provide at least 2 examples from literary texts, films, television shows, and/or visual art to support your answer.