The theory told the Naturalistic writers that man’s existence was shaped by heredity and environment, over which he had little control.
Therefore, Naturalists are pessimistic, holding a view of determinism, regarding human beings as passive victims of biological nature and social environment.
Literary Naturalism and Amoralism:
Therefore the Naturalists are often amoral in their attitude, neither condemning nor praising their characters for actions over which they have little control.
urges – fear, hunger and sex; tends to place characters in controlled environment, giving
them “experimental conditions.”
The Story :
Jack London:
The Law of Life
(1) theory of evolution (Origin of Species) (2) survival of the fittest (3) the metaphor of Jungle (4) Herbert Spencer’s Social Darwinism
Marx: economic determinism Freud: psychological determinism Comte: social and environmental determinism
On what basis can we categorize this short story as a piece of Naturalistic writing?
Reading Tips:
Jack London’s Naturalistic fiction is most typically represented by his “Northland tales” set in the Arctic region（北 极圈）. For a Naturalist, this setting provides ideal “experimental condition” as it highlights the overwhelming power of natural forces and incapability of human beings. Life is portrayed according to Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest – or rather, the survival of the tribe. Please note the elements of amoralism and determinism in the short story. The appalling tale is told in a matter-of-fact manner, allowing little room for human sentiments or moral judgment. This is not because Jack London was heartless and inhuman, but because he imagined a situation in which some of the basic ideas of Naturalism could be explored, magnified and discussed.
Thank you!
Literary Naturalism:
As a literary movement, it was most active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in France, America and England.
Naturalism is a type of literature that attempts to apply scientific principles of objectivity to its study of human beings.
英语短篇小说教程
Short Stories in English: A Reading Course
Unit Ten
Naturalistic Fiction Reading: “The Law of Life” by Jack London
Naturalism: a few key words
naturalism（自然主义）； heredity（遗传）； environment（环境）； determinism（宿命论）； amoral（超道德）
is pessimistic about human capabilities, holding a deterministic view of life;
tries to be amoral in their judgment of human behavior; is frank in the portrayal of human beings driven by fundamental
What has the setting to do with the theme of the short story?
What is “the law of life”? Can you underline some of the words in the story that explain what the “law” is?
In an important sense, naturalism is the writer’s response to the revolution in thought that modern science has produced.
Literary Naturalism:
Emile Zola:
A short poem by American naturalistic writer Stephen Crane:
A man said to the universe: “Sir, I exist!” “However,” replied the universe, “T A sense of obligation.”
Human beings and their relations to the surroundings:
Naturalism is a type of literature that attempts to apply scientific principles of objectivity and detachment to its study of human beings; that characters can be studied through their relations to their surroundings.
The ideal of a Naturalist was the selection of truthful instances to be placed in the “laboratory conditions” of fiction, where the hypotheses of the theories about the nature and operation of the forces that worked on human beings could be put to the test.
Darwin and Literary Naturalism:
Darwin’s theory of evolution provided an entirely new explanation of the origin of human beings, not as special creation by God, but as the result of evolution, gradual changes from lower species of animals to today’s form.
Characteristics of Naturalism
A Brief Summary:
A Naturalist writer generally –
strives to be honest and objective and aims at a “scientific” representation of the materials;
Questions for Discussion:
What do you think of the Indian tradition of abandoning their sickly elders? Was it the writer’s intention to reveal and condemn the inhumane and inhuman practice?
The theory of Naturalism affirms that all beings and events in the universe are natural and therefore can be fully known by the methods of scientific investigation.