| Debate concerning Frank Norris's place in American literature ensues a needless labyrinth from which few critics ever emerge. Instead, I propose a shift in paradigm by defining Norris's contribution to late-nineteenth-century American naturalistic literature and examining his portrayal of masculine and feminine characters. In particular, this paradigm reveals how their relationships impact his most pervasive themes: greed and the American dream.; Such a reading calls for a thorough exploration of the entire Norris canon since these themes, representing merely a sideline in McTeague and the first two novels of the Wheat Trilogy, become an all-pervading focus in Norris's other works. The themes of greed and the American dream, on the other hand, are reflective of their permeation throughout the development of American culture. Historically, Americans maintained that our country was founded on a desire for freedom. Only after such a noble aim had been agreed upon did we add the longing for a better life for one's self, family, and descendants. In actuality, however, our aim, as well as that of our ancestors who came to this land, was a specifically monetary American dream---to become rich, to have it all. Along with dreams of financial success came visions of power---to be able to have enough money to ignore the consequences. This materialistic and outward looking focus is a masculine one held in contradistinction to an equally valid, though generally viewed as illegitimate, spiritual and inward looking feminine attitude.; The ambition for money, power, and fame reflects the masculine American dream, and Norris includes this theme in every one of his novels. His masculine characters all try to realize the American dream of becoming rich, but in his last novel, The Pit: A Story of Chicago, Norris has come to realize the need for a balance of the masculine and the feminine both in society and in marriage and love. |
