American NaturalismAmerican Naturalism

““Nature’s Fury” videoNature’s Fury” video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxUezUX8R54

A man said to the universe:  A man said to the universe:  "Sir, I exist!"  "Sir, I exist!" 

"However," replied the "However," replied the universe,  universe, 

"The fact has not created in "The fact has not created in me  me 

A sense of obligation." A sense of obligation." --Stephen Crane (1894, --Stephen Crane (1894,

1899) 1899)

•http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcNxjXS5XVA

Traits of NaturalismTraits of Naturalism• Realism: Renders common people Realism: Renders common people

and life accurately and life accurately • Shows that environment and instinct Shows that environment and instinct

determine behaviordetermine behavior• Paints human destiny as beyond the Paints human destiny as beyond the

control of the individualcontrol of the individual• Uses setting, theme, irony, and Uses setting, theme, irony, and

conflict to convey these ideasconflict to convey these ideas• Objectivity: narrator does not judgeObjectivity: narrator does not judge

• Pessimism Pessimism -- pessimistic about human -- pessimistic about human capabilities--life, the naturalists seem to capabilities--life, the naturalists seem to feel, is a vicious trap (glass is half empty)feel, is a vicious trap (glass is half empty)

• Fate is out of characters’ controlFate is out of characters’ control: In : In Realism the characters have at least Realism the characters have at least some degree of free will; naturalism some degree of free will; naturalism assumes humans have little if any assumes humans have little if any control over what happens. Rather, control over what happens. Rather, things happen to people, who are at the things happen to people, who are at the mercy of a variety of external and mercy of a variety of external and internal forces –their fates are entirely internal forces –their fates are entirely determined by forces beyond their determined by forces beyond their control.control.