Final answer:
Realist theatre emerged from a revolt against neoclassical artifice, aiming to more accurately portray contemporary life in the wake of the social changes brought about by the Industrial and Commercial Revolutions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Realist theatre originated as a revolt against the intentional artifice of neoclassicism. Emerging in France in the 1850s, realism sought to accurately depict the reality of contemporary life, often focusing on everyday situations and characters from a diverse range of social classes.
This rejection came during a period of significant social changes, influenced by figures like Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, and Sigmund Freud, which in turn affected society's view of the human condition.
Therefore, the realism movement in theatre reflected society by providing a mirror to the behaviors observed in the human beings of that time, enhanced by historically accurate scenery and costumes.
French neoclassical theatre, with its neoclassical Italianate design and adherence to strict rules as outlined by Horace in Ars Poetica, laid the groundwork for the more specificity and decorum that would be later rejected by realists.
The move toward realism was a response to the melodramatic and romantic aesthetics dominating the previous era, propelling theatre towards more truthful representations of life, embodying both its mundane and sordid aspects. These changes were a direct result of the transformative effects of the Industrial and Commercial Revolutions on society.