Naturalism

Definition

Naturalism is a literary movement that emerged in the late 19th century, emphasizing a realistic portrayal of life and the influence of environment, heredity, and social conditions on human behavior. It extends realism by applying a scientific approach to characters' motivations and actions, often depicting humans as products of their environment and biology. This movement seeks to show life without embellishment or idealization, often focusing on the darker aspects of existence.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Naturalism is often associated with authors like Émile Zola and Stephen Crane, who focused on the influence of environment and social conditions on individual lives.
2. The movement arose as a response to the romanticism of the earlier 19th century, pushing for a more scientific and objective approach to storytelling.
3. Naturalist writers frequently employed detailed descriptions of settings and characters to highlight the harsh realities of life.
4. Key themes in naturalist literature include survival, fate, and the impact of heredity, illustrating how individuals are often trapped by circumstances beyond their control.
5. Naturalism influenced other forms of art and thought beyond literature, impacting philosophy, psychology, and social sciences with its emphasis on a scientific understanding of human behavior.

Review Questions

• How does naturalism differ from realism in literature?
  • Naturalism differs from realism primarily in its emphasis on a scientific approach to human behavior. While realism depicts everyday life without embellishment, naturalism goes further by exploring how environment, heredity, and social factors determine characters' actions and outcomes. This often leads naturalist writers to focus on the darker or more challenging aspects of life, presenting characters as products of their circumstances rather than as autonomous individuals.
• Discuss the role of determinism in naturalist literature and how it shapes character development.
  • Determinism plays a crucial role in naturalist literature by suggesting that characters are shaped by factors beyond their control, such as their environment, upbringing, and societal influences. This philosophical viewpoint leads writers to create characters whose choices are heavily influenced by their circumstances, often resulting in struggles against fate. As a result, naturalist narratives frequently highlight themes of inevitability and helplessness, illustrating how characters navigate a world that seems predetermined.
• Evaluate the impact of naturalism on modern literature and its relevance to contemporary themes.
  • Naturalism has had a lasting impact on modern literature by paving the way for more nuanced portrayals of human experience that account for societal influences and psychological complexities. Its focus on realism and environmental factors continues to resonate in contemporary themes such as social justice, mental health, and identity politics. By examining how characters interact with their environments and the forces that shape them, modern writers can create rich narratives that reflect ongoing struggles within society, emphasizing the importance of understanding context in character development.

Related terms

Realism: A literary movement that aims to depict everyday life and society without romanticizing or idealizing it, focusing on common people and their experiences.

Determinism: The philosophical belief that all events, including human actions, are ultimately determined by causes external to the will, often linked to naturalism in literature.

Pessimism: A worldview or attitude that expects negative outcomes, often reflected in naturalist literature through themes of struggle and despair in the human condition.