Naturalism- Background Great American naturalists (Stephen Crane) came of age in a time of cultural unrest The Civil War taught lessons on the use of man, mass production of goods, etc. Brought about a less optimistic view on life America’s cities were flooded with immigrants Great fortunes were made in one or two decades (Carnegie, Vanderbilt, Rockefeller) Where did that leave the lower class? Labor unrest threatened large scale violence

Naturalism- Background Because of the vast difference in social classes (haves and the have nots) the literary term NATURALISM emerged. The naturalists outlook on life was based on PESSIMISTIC DETERMINISM-human life is absolutely determined by environmental forces and those forces were unkind.

Naturalism vs. Realism REALISTS: presented dramas of meaningful human choice and free will. Due to the Civil War, the realists tried to show the flaws in society in order to show how man could overcome these flaws NATURALISTS- EXTREME VERSION OF REALISM--flaws in society brought about by nature could not be overcome— PESSIMISTIC DETERMINISM

Naturalism -Definition Apply scientific principles of detachment to its study of human beings. Characters are studied through their relationship with their surroundings. Study human beings governed by their instincts and passions as well as governed by forces of heredity and environment

Characters in Naturalism Novels Revolves around ill-educated or lower class characters (common, ordinary working class people) whose lives are controlled by heredity, instinct, and passion These people do not have free will or choice because they are trapped by their social and physical environment Mankind is trapped in an indifferent world- neither society nor nature cares about the individual MAN IS A PAWN OF NATURE

SETTING An urban setting

PLOT OF NATURALISTIC NOVELS Typically concentrates on the sordid side of life Poverty, war, disease, death World is amoral- no reward for good deeds Anti-sentimental- only write about the present—gone are the “good ole’ days”

LANGUAGE IN NATURALISM Typically vernacular- Captures the speech of the common, ordinary citizen Ex: “Eh, child what is it dis time? Is yer fader beatin’ yer mudder or yer mudder beatin’ yer fader?” (last line of Chapter 2 of Maggie) Style is very factual, detail oriented—much like a newspaper account

THEMES IN NATURALISM Man’s inhumanity to man The “brute within” each individual Fight for survival in an amoral, indifferent universe Passions, such as lust, greed, or the desire for dominance or pleasure lead to inhumanity

THEMES Nature’s indifference in regard to mankind’s survival Nature doesn’t care about people It will eat them up and spit them out, and people have no control over this happening to them.

How is the following quote an example of naturalism? “ A man said to the universe: ‘Sir, I exist!’ ‘However,’ replied the universe, ‘The fact has not created in me a sense of obligation’” Stephen Crane