Realism Project- Definition of Naturalism

Naturalism is a writing style that evolved from Realism. According to James R. Giles, Determinism, or, "The concept that individuals are controlled by impersonal internal and/or external forces" is the also part of the basis of Naturalism. Naturalism could be defined as a literary style that focuses on the everyday life situations faced by common people, and these people are generally from the lower class, such as homeless folks or people in the slums (Giles). Since Naturalism does focus on the lower class, society is commonly a topic discussed or centered around in a work of Naturalism. This is quite similar to realism in the way that it gives initiation to normal, every day situations in which one must use his or her own strength, ideas, and power in order to resolve a conflict (Giles). Realism also centers many stories around the society, such as how a corrupt government or the differences between social classes (Giles). However, Realism usually focuses more on the middle class individuals; their characters are not very high up on the social rung, but they are also not anywhere close to the bottom. A trait previously mentioned of Naturalism is the use of lower class individuals; often times the setting will take place in a large city in the slums, portraying characters whom are really in the most sad and desperate of situations (Giles). This might allow a reader to see, truly, how one may bring themselves out of such a desperate situation; since these individuals in the story truly do not have many advantages such as extra money or government connections, it is up to their sole strength and power to resolve any situation (Giles). There have been many Naturalism stories written in which the setting was not within city limits, though (Giles). Some stories have been written in which the plot took place out in the middle of the country, or out in the middle of places that were not very populated. There, instead of focusing more on a direct government, the stories are centered around their own general conflicts and problems. Although there may not have been a direct government, a general society is still set up everywhere, and there are always people who are "higher class" than another, causing society to have impacts on the lives of all of those people. Naturalism focuses on the stories of those lower class people who have been hit hard by the impacts of society, and, although it may be more common or more easy to see it happening in the city, it certainly does take place almost everywhere, and is therefore written about (Giles).

According to Giles, Naturalism made a big impact in the American theater. People were beginning to speak out about how they felt regarding the government and the fact that it may be quite corrupt (Giles). These plays allowed individuals to express how they truly felt towards the situation; viewers could probably easily relate to the story line and even feel as if they participation might bring the corruptness to a stop. Since the theater would focus on the situations many common people were experiencing day after day, it became even more popular and definitely influenced modern day theater. Naturalism, really, as a whole influenced literature and theater very strongly through the honest words and sincere reality that was being portrayed.

WORKS CITED

Giles, James R. "naturalism." In Anderson, George P., Judith S. Baughman, Matthew J. Bruccoli, and Carl Rollyson, eds. Encyclopedia of American Literature, Revised Edition: Into the Modern: 1896–1945, Volume 3. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2008. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?ItemID=WE54&SID=5&iPin= EAmL1255&SingleRecord=True (accessed February 9, 2011).