Environmental Influences

Definition

Environmental influences refer to the various external factors that affect individuals, societies, and cultures, shaping behaviors, beliefs, and artistic expressions. In the context of naturalism and the influence of science, these influences underscore the relationship between human experience and the physical world, emphasizing how surroundings, nature, and scientific understanding impact characters and narratives in dramatic works.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Naturalism emerged in the late 19th century as a response to realism, integrating scientific perspectives into the portrayal of human life.
2. Environmental influences often manifest through the settings and circumstances that characters find themselves in, affecting their choices and moral dilemmas.
3. The concept emphasizes that characters are products of their environment, which includes social, economic, and physical conditions.
4. Scientific advancements during the naturalism movement inspired playwrights to incorporate elements like psychology and biology into character development.
5. The focus on environmental influences encourages audiences to consider how external factors shape not just individual actions but societal dynamics as well.

Review Questions

• How do environmental influences shape character development in naturalistic plays?
  • In naturalistic plays, characters are often depicted as products of their environment, which includes their socio-economic status, cultural background, and immediate surroundings. These environmental influences dictate their choices, motivations, and conflicts, leading to a more authentic portrayal of human behavior. By presenting characters in relation to their environments, playwrights emphasize the impact of external factors on individual actions and societal interactions.
• Discuss how environmental influences reflect the scientific understanding of human behavior in naturalistic drama.
  • Environmental influences in naturalistic drama showcase a shift towards understanding human behavior through scientific lenses like psychology and biology. This reflects an acknowledgment that individual choices are often dictated by external conditions rather than free will. By exploring these connections, playwrights demonstrate how characters are impacted by their surroundings and circumstances, illustrating the interplay between nature and nurture within human experience.
• Evaluate the implications of emphasizing environmental influences on societal perspectives in naturalistic theater.
  • Emphasizing environmental influences in naturalistic theater leads to critical reflections on societal norms and structures. It challenges audiences to recognize how external factors such as poverty, education, and community shape individual lives. By portraying these dynamics on stage, playwrights provoke discussions about social responsibility and justice, ultimately inviting viewers to consider the broader implications of environment on both personal identities and collective societal issues.

Related terms

Naturalism:

A literary movement that seeks to portray life accurately and realistically, often highlighting the influence of environment and heredity on human behavior.

Determinism: The philosophical concept that all events, including human actions, are determined by previously existing causes, often emphasizing environmental factors as key determinants of behavior.

Setting:

The time and place in which a story unfolds, serving as a crucial backdrop that shapes the characters' experiences and actions.