Naturalism as Developed by London and Crane
Quezada, Rene
English 8
The Naturalist Perspective
Often dismissed as realism by many critics, Naturalist literature takes a stand against the "reality" presented in the realist works of James, Howells, and other Realist authors. The Naturalist authors seek to reveal a true image of life and the human experience no matter how ugly that truth may appear. They aim to tell the stories that Realism is too afraid to explore. Frank Norris makes his views on Realist literature very clear as he calls Realism "minute... the drama of a broken teacup, the tragedy of a walk down the block, the excitement of an afternoon call, the adventure of an invitation to dinner." (Norris, 578) in his 1901 essay "A Plea for Romantic Fiction" Here, Norris points out the mundane nature of the plot and setting of realist fiction. For Norris Realism extends only to what it views from afar and what it chooses to view. Naturalism departs from the Realist mindset of what stories are worth telling quite drastically. Stephen Crane's "The Open Boat" and Jack London's "To Build A Fire" exemplify the direction that Naturalist literature takes. A shipwrecked crew on a dinger in the middle of a fierce ocean and a man braving a brutal subarctic tundra with his dog are far cries from the "'Grandes Salles' of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance" (Norris, 578) often depicted as ideal for romantic settings by those who read realist literature and believe it to be romantic. Jack London and Stephen Crane portray vivid pictures of human misery onset by crushing environments and forces in their stories. Despite taking different approaches, both stories stay true to naturalism and its themes of man's frailty in the face of forces beyond his control, the insignificance of man to the universe around him as a whole, and the foolish belief that man can bend nature to his will.
Both London and Crane present an unforgiving setting that leaves no room for human agency to exert its will, the result is a
English 8
The Naturalist Perspective
Often dismissed as realism by many critics, Naturalist literature takes a stand against the "reality" presented in the realist works of James, Howells, and other Realist authors. The Naturalist authors seek to reveal a true image of life and the human experience no matter how ugly that truth may appear. They aim to tell the stories that Realism is too afraid to explore. Frank Norris makes his views on Realist literature very clear as he calls Realism "minute... the drama of a broken teacup, the tragedy of a walk down the block, the excitement of an afternoon call, the adventure of an invitation to dinner." (Norris, 578) in his 1901 essay "A Plea for Romantic Fiction" Here, Norris points out the mundane nature of the plot and setting of realist fiction. For Norris Realism extends only to what it views from afar and what it chooses to view. Naturalism departs from the Realist mindset of what stories are worth telling quite drastically. Stephen Crane's "The Open Boat" and Jack London's "To Build A Fire" exemplify the direction that Naturalist literature takes. A shipwrecked crew on a dinger in the middle of a fierce ocean and a man braving a brutal subarctic tundra with his dog are far cries from the "'Grandes Salles' of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance" (Norris, 578) often depicted as ideal for romantic settings by those who read realist literature and believe it to be romantic. Jack London and Stephen Crane portray vivid pictures of human misery onset by crushing environments and forces in their stories. Despite taking different approaches, both stories stay true to naturalism and its themes of man's frailty in the face of forces beyond his control, the insignificance of man to the universe around him as a whole, and the foolish belief that man can bend nature to his will.
Both London and Crane present an unforgiving setting that leaves no room for human agency to exert its will, the result is a