The struggle for survival

Definition

The struggle for survival refers to the inherent conflict individuals face in the fight to maintain their existence in a harsh and often unforgiving environment. This concept underscores the idea that characters are driven by instinct and necessity, often resorting to primal behaviors to cope with challenges. It also highlights themes of resilience, desperation, and the impact of external forces, such as nature and society, on an individual's fate.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. In rural naturalism, characters often confront the harsh realities of their environment, which shapes their struggle for survival in both physical and psychological ways.
2. The struggle for survival can manifest in various forms, including competition for resources, social hierarchies, and the impact of poverty on individuals and families.
3. Characters may resort to desperate measures as they face threats from nature, such as extreme weather or natural disasters, showcasing their instinctual drive to survive.
4. The theme often explores moral dilemmas faced by characters when their survival is at stake, highlighting the complexities of human behavior in dire situations.
5. Literary works that emphasize this struggle frequently depict a sense of fatalism, suggesting that external forces are ultimately beyond individual control.

Review Questions

• How does the struggle for survival reflect the themes present in rural naturalism?
  • The struggle for survival is central to rural naturalism as it illustrates how characters interact with their environment and are shaped by external forces. This genre often portrays individuals facing harsh realities, where their instincts drive them to make choices that highlight their resilience or desperation. By focusing on these struggles, rural naturalism emphasizes the influence of setting and societal conditions on human behavior, showcasing the complexity of survival in difficult circumstances.
• Discuss the moral implications of characters' choices during their struggle for survival in rural settings.
  • Characters in rural naturalism often face moral dilemmas when their survival is threatened, which raises important questions about ethics and humanity. These situations compel individuals to make tough decisions that may conflict with their values or societal norms. For instance, when resources are scarce, a character may have to choose between helping a neighbor or ensuring their own family's survival. Such conflicts reveal the darker sides of human nature while prompting readers to consider what they would do in similar situations.
• Evaluate how the portrayal of the struggle for survival in rural naturalism connects to broader themes of determinism and free will.
  • The portrayal of the struggle for survival in rural naturalism invites an evaluation of determinism versus free will by illustrating how characters are often trapped by their circumstances. While they may exhibit agency in their choices, those choices are heavily influenced by factors like environment, economic status, and social pressures. This tension raises questions about whether individuals have true control over their fates or if they are merely responding to external forces beyond their control. Through this lens, rural naturalism critiques the notion of free will while exploring the harsh realities of life.

Related terms

Naturalism:

A literary movement that emphasizes the influence of environment, heredity, and social conditions on human behavior, often depicting life in a deterministic manner.

Survivalism: A philosophy or lifestyle focused on preparing for emergencies and potential societal collapse, emphasizing self-sufficiency and resilience.

Pessimism:

A worldview that focuses on the negative aspects of life and human existence, often associated with a belief in inevitable failure or decline.