Naturalism Literary Movement

Naturalism

• A literary movement emerging in the late 19th century, inspired by scientific principles and ideas like instinct and Darwin's theory of evolution.
• Portrays characters driven by their animalistic impulses and urges, often struggling for survival in an unforgiving environment.
• Focuses on human nature, leading to character-driven narratives rather than plot-driven ones.

Key Principles of Naturalism

• Consistency in natural law: Truth lies in consistent principles, patterns, and laws governing nature.
• Human nature as the sum of heredity and environment: Characters are shaped by their genetic makeup and environment.
• Determinism: A person's fate is determined by external factors beyond their control, such as heredity and environment.

Naturalism vs. Realism

• Naturalism is characterized by philosophical pessimism and employs scientific techniques to depict characters objectively.
• Realism primarily focuses on literary techniques and represents things as they appear.
• Naturalism views a character's decisions as predetermined by natural forces, whereas Realism attributes a character's choices to their response to specific situations.

Function of Naturalism

• Exposes harsh realities of life, including prejudice, racism, poverty, and disease.
• Aims to improve the human condition worldwide despite its pessimism.

Representative Works

• The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
• The Call of the Wild by Jack London
• Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy
• Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
• The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
• As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
• Plays by Henrik Ibsen

Themes

• Scientific principles
• Ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances
• An indifferent universe
• Tragic endings
• Survival

Style

• Employs symbolism to convey profound meanings through minimalistic imagery and language.
• Features coarse language and subject matter dealing with raw and unpleasant experiences.
• Reduces characters to degrading behavior in their fight for survival.

Subject Matter in Naturalism

• Centers around raw and unpleasant experiences that push characters to desperate measures in their fight for survival.
• Focuses on characters from the lower middle or lower classes, characterized by poverty, lack of education, and lack of sophistication.
• Uncovers qualities in these characters that are usually associated with heroic or adventurous figures, such as violence and passion.