Environmental Influences

Definition

Environmental influences refer to the external factors and conditions that shape the lives and experiences of individuals, particularly in how they relate to their social, economic, and cultural contexts. In literature, these influences highlight the impact of surroundings—such as nature, society, and circumstance—on characters' behaviors, choices, and fates, often serving as a critical lens through which to examine broader societal issues.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Environmental influences are central to both realism and naturalism, demonstrating how characters are affected by their social surroundings and personal circumstances.
2. In naturalist works, characters often struggle against environmental forces beyond their control, illustrating the deterministic view of human existence shaped by these influences.
3. Realist literature tends to focus on the impact of societal norms and conditions on individual choices and behaviors, showcasing the interconnectedness of personal agency and environmental factors.
4. Authors like Emile Zola in naturalism and Gustave Flaubert in realism used detailed descriptions of settings to emphasize the environmental influences on their characters.
5. The exploration of environmental influences often serves as a critique of societal structures, highlighting inequalities related to class, race, and gender.

Review Questions

• How do environmental influences shape character development in realist and naturalist literature?
  • In both realist and naturalist literature, environmental influences play a crucial role in character development by determining their behaviors, motivations, and outcomes. Realist authors focus on how societal norms and everyday experiences shape characters' choices, emphasizing individual agency within a specific context. In contrast, naturalist writers illustrate how harsh environmental conditions and social circumstances can limit characters’ choices, often leading them to tragic ends. This contrast highlights the varying degrees of control characters have over their lives due to external factors.
• Evaluate the role of environmental influences in conveying social critique within naturalist texts compared to realist texts.
  • Environmental influences serve as a powerful tool for social critique in both naturalist and realist texts but do so in different ways. Naturalism often emphasizes the determinism of environment, suggesting that individuals are heavily influenced or even trapped by their surroundings. This perspective critiques social structures by demonstrating how they can dictate life chances. In contrast, realism critiques society by portraying the complexities of individual choices within specific contexts, highlighting how social norms shape behaviors. Both approaches offer insights into societal flaws but through different lenses of influence.
• Synthesize how environmental influences can be seen as a reflection of broader societal issues in literature from both realism and naturalism.
  • Environmental influences in literature not only shape character experiences but also reflect broader societal issues such as class inequality, racial tensions, and gender roles. In naturalism, authors often depict harsh realities faced by marginalized groups as a way to expose systemic injustices rooted in social conditions. Meanwhile, realism presents a more nuanced view of how societal expectations affect individual lives, showcasing personal struggles against a backdrop of cultural norms. By analyzing these environmental influences, readers can gain deeper insights into how literature mirrors real-world problems and contributes to ongoing conversations about social change.

Related terms

Naturalism:

A literary movement that emphasizes the role of environment, heredity, and social conditions in shaping human behavior and fate.

Realism: A literary style that seeks to portray everyday life accurately, focusing on ordinary characters and situations without idealization.

Socioeconomic Status: An individual's or group's economic and social position in relation to others, which can significantly influence their opportunities and experiences.