Naturalism

Naturalism emerged as a literary movement in the late 19th century, propelled by a desire to depict the harsh realities of existence with unflinching honesty and scientific precision. Rooted in the principles of determinism and influenced by the burgeoning fields of psychology and sociology, Naturalism sought to explore the impact of heredity, environment, and social forces on human behavior.

This movement developed alongside realism. Naturalism, however, is distinguished by human’s place in the world, they were seen as one with nature, a part of nature. Often naturalism is seen as an extreme version of realism as it paints a bleaker picture of the human condition, emphasizing the powerlessness of individuals against impersonal forces. We also see the use of some of the scientific principles in naturalistic works, and humans struggling for survival in hostile and alien societies. Naturalism took its cue from Darwin’s theory of evolution, which holds that life is like a struggle and only the fittest survive. 

Naturalism and Realism are interlinked. However, here are some differences between them: 

  • Naturalism suggests a philosophical pessimism in which writers use scientific techniques to depict human beings as objective and impartial characters; whereas realism focuses on literary technique.
  • Realism depicts things as they appear, while naturalism portrays a deterministic view of a character’s actions and life.
  • Naturalism concludes that natural forces predetermine a character’s decisions, making him/her act in a particular way. Realism poses that a decision of a character comes from his response to a certain situation.

Authors such as Emile Zola and Stephen Crane sought to strip away the veneer of civilization to reveal the primal instincts and base desires that lay beneath. Naturalist literature exposed the raw, often brutal realities of life, confronting readers with uncomfortable truths about society, class, and the human psyche.

Important Dates:

  • Europe: 1865-1900
  • North America: 1890-1910
  • Latin America: 1800-1910

Characteristics of Naturalism include:

  • The Individual is shaped by the environment, family, and society. 
  • Human Nature is seen as objective and impartial. 
  • Humans were seen as part of Nature; as just another animal in nature. 
  • The role of the Artistic is to show things as they are seen, rather than a romantic view of art. A naturalist artist would depict nature as they see it. 
  • Naturalistic writers wrote characters who are not only influenced by the natural world but also are a part of the natural world. Characters are often controlled by their environment or circumstance. 

Recommended Reading

Science Fiction:

  • Naturalism - naturalism is 1) a style and theory of representation based on the accurate depiction of detail 2) the philosophical belief that everything arises from natural properties and causes, and supernatural or spiritual explanations are excluded or discounted. 
    • Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton (1990)
    • 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne (1954)

Fantasy:

  • Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll
    • Alice in Wonderland is an example of a fantasy world that often takes place within a natural setting. Alice, the main character, is often affected by the natural world, such as when she eats “magic mushrooms.” 
  • Green Rider by Kristen Britain
    • This series combines magic/fantasy with nature, where nature is the primary force in the magic. This series also has a strong presence where the setting and plot are shaped by society, which is common during this era. 

Graphic Novel/Comic:

  • Jack London by Jack Lodon, Gary Reed, Ron McCain
    • At the dawn of the 20th century, Jack London was considered one of the first literary writing pioneers in the rapidly growing world of magazine fiction. Having written numerous novels, short stories, poems, and essays, he became a well-known celebrity and world-wide household name. Even today, Jack London’s popular written works find a large reader audience and his stories have been adapted into feature films and television programs. Here are presented FIVE of his stories, adapted with illustrated art from award-winning comic artists Ron McCain (DC’s Batman, and Adventures of Superman, MARVEL’s Wolverine), Guy Davis (Dark Horse’s Hellboy and DC’s Swamp Thing), Vince Locke (Neil Gaiman’s Sandman, Judge Dredd, Deadworld), and Charles Yates (High Caliber, Frankenstein). Collected are Jack London's: A Piece of Steak, Chinago, The Death of Ligoun, Told in the Drooling Ward, and Koolau the Leper.

Young Adult Literature:

Naturalism is seen in YAL through its concentration on the stark and harsh aspects of life, mirrored through the use of nature. Often, characters are driven by forces of nature that they do not entirely understand. 

  • Ashfall by Mike Mullin (2011)
  • The Raft by S.A. Bodeen (2012)
  • The Distance Between Lost and Found by Kathryn Holmes (2015)
  • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (2008)
  • The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau (2004)
  • Divergent by Veronica Roth (2011)

Recommended Media:

  • Steven Wiersum. 2015. Naturalism Introduction. YouTube. youtube.com/watch?v=M91epmOsMWU
  • Adam Wojnar. 2017. Naturalism Literary Period. YouTube. youtube.com/watch?v=bfPi_Ktw7PU

"Cats" by Emporia State student, Samantha Myrick

A head bumping against my own
rumbling like the storm outside.
Fur fluffy and silky
A creature that can take a life
With a chomp of jaws
or a bap of paw and claw
and I have them belly exposed
still rumbling
with sritches and babbling
Tails wiggling as a bug passes by
A hand on the back keeps
The predator in place
A mew that can turn into a
Roar
Saying what the creature and I both know
We’re in this together
Both predator and prey