Naturalism
The Definition of Naturalism
Naturalism is literature with a philosophical positon that attempts to apply scientific principles (scientific method) of objectivity and detachment to its study of human beings. Naturalism is a specialized variety of Realism in that it identifies the underlying causes for a person's actions or beliefs. Most authors applied Social Darwinism in their works. Simply put, naturalism tries to replicate everyday life and reality without giving characters 'special treatment', or extraordinary circumstances like suddenly becoming wealthy.
The Characteristics
Literary Technique
The environment always plays a large part in how the narrative is developed and, in a way, becomes its own character. Even though naturalists focus more on the plot than the characters, it is important to note that the focus is not really on the character, but on how the characters react to circumstances.
Traits
Pessimism, determinism, predetermined fate, and detachment from the story with an overall objective tone are prominent traits of naturalism. Most of the time, naturalist novels revolved around ill-educated or middle-class characters in an urban setting. A surprising trait of naturalist novels are the surprising twists at the end of their stories. The most common point of view is third person omniscient. Naturalist authors tend to also be straight forward or frank in their writting.
The environment always plays a large part in how the narrative is developed and, in a way, becomes its own character. Even though naturalists focus more on the plot than the characters, it is important to note that the focus is not really on the character, but on how the characters react to circumstances.
Traits
Pessimism, determinism, predetermined fate, and detachment from the story with an overall objective tone are prominent traits of naturalism. Most of the time, naturalist novels revolved around ill-educated or middle-class characters in an urban setting. A surprising trait of naturalist novels are the surprising twists at the end of their stories. The most common point of view is third person omniscient. Naturalist authors tend to also be straight forward or frank in their writting.
Themes of the Day
Some of the most common themes found in naturalism:
- the fight for survival in an uncaring universe
- an indifferent, deterministic universe where humans will try to exercise free will
- people are fated to a station in life that their heredity, environment, and social conditions prepare them for
- the power of primitive emotions to negate human reason
Culture Back Then
Taking place around the 1880s to the 1940s, this literary movement took place during a time of great migrations. Immigrants from everywhere were flocking to America at the time. The politics centered around migration policies while the people began to argue over Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. There were many Fundamentalists and Christians. Christians belived that during the period of imperialism they could spread their beliefs to the rest of the world. Early on during the naturalism movement, there were transendentalist. Here at home in America, there were many economic problems. There were labor strikes (examples: the Homestead Strike and the Pullman Railroad Strike) almost everywhere and active labor unions.
Authors of the Movement
Most Notable Authors
- Emile Zola- considered the Father of Naturalism; wrote Les Rougon-Macquart
- Stephen Crane- one of first Naturalist works of literature in America was Maaggie: A Girl of the Streets; one of his most famous works was The Red Badge of Courage
- Jack London- most well know books are Call of the Wild, White Fang, and The Sea-Wolf
- Edith Wharton- her novel The Age of Innocence won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction
- Upton Sinclair- most well known book The Jungle
- Charles Darwin- wrote Origin of Species
Other Authors
- Frank Norris- wrote McTeague
- Theodore Dreiser- wrote Sister Carrie
- Abraham Cahan- wrote The Rise of David Levinsky
- Ellen Glasgow- wrote In This Our Life
- David Graham Phillips- wrote Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise)