Naturalism

"Man is the cruelest animal"

"Is man only a blunder of god or god only a blunder of man"

-Friedrich Neitzsche

NATURALISM

Naturalism describes a literary term that attempts to apply scientific principles to the study of human beings. Unlike realism that focuses on technique, naturalism implies a philosophical position. Naturalistic writers use a version of scientific method and apply it to their writing. The study of human beings focuses on their instinct, passion and the ways in which their lives are governed by forces of heredity and environment. Like realists, naturalistic writers follow the same technique of accumulating details but have a specific segment of reality that they wish to convey.

In short the naturalistic novel is an extension of realism in that it not only deals with the locality, time period and social issues but also the focuses on the excess if human nature.

CHARACTERISTICS:

Characters frequently are ill-educated or lower-class whose lives are governed by the forces of heredity, instinct and passion. The main challenge often is their attempts at exercising free will or choice that are beyond their control. Social Darwinism and other social theories explain their fates and situations in life to the reader. The main setting for naturalistic novels tend to be urban, and seem to depict an endless cycle of despair.

THEMES

Survival, determination, violence and taboo are often displayed in a naturalistic novel

The "brute within", "man against nature" or "man against himself" are all conflicts that surface in a naturalistic novel. Usually the character must fight off external temptations or pleasures that might release the "brute within".

Nature often acts as an indifferent force that governs the lives of human beings.

Forces of heredity and environment

Naturalistic novels display the futile attempts of individuals to exercise their free will.

PRACTITIONERS

Emile Zola

Stephen Crane

Theodore Dreiser

James T. Farrell

Henrik Ibsen

Frank Norris

Sherwood Anderson

evolution of realism ®