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American Naturalism

American Naturalism. American Naturalism . I. Introduction 1. Origin (1) Industrialism: create a large group of very poor people; live in slums and cannot control their lives; self-reliance disappeared in the fast development of economy

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American Naturalism

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  1. American Naturalism

  2. American Naturalism • I. Introduction • 1. Origin • (1) Industrialism: create a large group of very poor people; live in slums and cannot control their lives; self-reliance disappeared in the fast development of economy • (2) The Origin of Species (Charles Darwin, 1859, godless world, human beast, the survival of the fittest, cruel natural law correspond with cruel social realities

  3. American Naturalism • (3) Herbert Spencer: Social Darwinism (human controlled by heredity and outside social power) • (4) Howell’s “smiling aspect” realism seems too genteel and even false. Thus the influence of French naturalism, Tolstoy and Turgenev came to American literature.

  4. American Naturalism • 2. Significance • (1) Breaking through some forbidden area in literature (violence, death, sex etc.) • (2) Greatly influencing the 20th century writers such as Hemingway and Faulkner

  5. American Naturalism • II. Stephen Crane (1871- 1900) • 1. Works • (1) Maggie: A Girl of the Streets (resistance of her slum life and at last suicide) • (2) The Red Badge of Courage (changes of a young man’s psychological state in the civil war) • (3) The Black Riders (poem collection) • Crane and Emily Dickinson were two forerunners of Imagism.

  6. American Naturalism • 2. Conclusion • (1) Basic motif: environment and heredity overwhelm men • (2) Pioneer of naturalism

  7. American Naturalism • III. Theodore Dreiser (1871 – 1945) • 1. Life • (1) Indiana, German-speaking family • (2) Extremely poor childhood • (3) Worked as a reporter and his first book Sister Carrie was rejected many times • (4) In his later life, he turned to Communism.

  8. American Naturalism • 2. Works • (1) Sister Carrie (Carrie Meeber, Drouet, Hurstwood) (no control of her own life; driving blindly to catch all opportunities to make life better) • (2) An American Tragedy • (3) Cowperwood trilogy

  9. American Naturalism • 3. Analysis • (1) Social Darwinism (man only drive by desire; only fittest can live in the society) • (2) Style: formless, dull, crude • (3) Powerful depiction of American social life and moving characters

  10. American Naturalism • IV. Jack London (1876 – 1916) • 1. Life • (1) name: John Ariffith London; born in San Francisco • (2) lived in the lowest part of society in his youth • (3) decided to change his life by ntellectual effort

  11. American Naturalism • (4) his works were rejected many times • (5) at last succeeded and became a millionaire • (6) fame and upper class life made him feel boring; committed suicide

  12. American Naturalism • 2. Works • The Call of the Wild (story of a dog) • White Fang (story of a wolf) • The Sea Wolf • Martin Eden

  13. American Naturalism • 3. Analysis • (1) Social Darwinism, Neitzchean superman, socialist doctrines of Marx • (2) Naturalism mingled with Romanticism • (3) Limitations: formless, clumsy yet vigorous style; stiff and stereotyped characters and dialogues

  14. American Naturalism • V. O. Henry • Original name: William Sidney Porter • He was good at writing clever short stories and employ New York City as the background. • His stories showed his sympathy with the lower class.

  15. American Naturalism • He always created the special ends described as “tears with smile” for his stories. • His famous stories include “The Gift of the Magi” and “The Cop and the Athem”. • His short stories are somewhat like French writer Maupassant’s.

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