The Tradition And Development Of American Naturalism

With the economic, scientific and social transformations, under the influence of European naturalism, American naturalism was initiated at the end of 19th century and developed into the present, taking up a remarkably important position in the history of American literature.American naturalism, as an expression of the new reality of America to dramatize"a panoramic world and chaotic inner life", has appealed to a large number of American writers in every phrase of twentieth century, and the most sticking characteristic is its adaptability to the social and intellectual concerns of that age. Just as Bowron claims,"essentially, literary naturalism is not merely a literary conception, but a theory of man and society, a style corresponding to the age"(Bowron, 1951: 27). Theodore Dreiser is generally acknowledged as one of the most outstanding naturalists of late 19th century, and Sister Carrie is the first and best-known works of him. On the other hand, Joyce Carol Oates is widely considered as one of the greatest representatives of Dreiser in contemporary American literature, and them is a typical naturalist works in her early writing stage. Connecting the classic works, commentaries on American naturalism with the latest achievements, this thesis attempts to analyze in contrast the respective themes, characters and their destiny in the two works. And this thesis aims to examine the differences on their naturalistic ideas between the two writers of different ages, and to review American naturalism from its conventions to the latest development.The thesis consists of seven chapters.Chapter One begins with the literature review and the significance of the study.Chapter Two is an overview of American naturalism. It includes two parts: the first part reviews the origins of literary naturalism, the second part deals with the origins of American naturalism and its development in the 20th century.Chapter Three analyzes in contrast the respective naturalistic themes in Sister Carrie and them. Pessimistic determinism prevails in Sister Carrie. In an indifferent world, driven by instincts and environment, man is just like"a feather in the wind"and can not control his own fate. On the other hand, in them the author portrays the endless, dramatic, greatly moving struggle between oppressive matter and unyielding spirit. Chapter Four is devoted to the contrast of the characters in the two novels. This part shows the different interpretations on the relationship among man's instinct, reason and free will between Dreiser and Oates. In Dreiser's opinion, when human's instinct and reason are at war, the former prevails over the latter in most instances; human's free will is almost an illusion. As for Oates, she affirms the powerful strength of man's reason and free will. Although man's reason may submit to his instinct for a time, his reason and free will can ultimately defeat his instinct.Chapter Five focuses on the contrast of violence in the two novels. Dreiser emphasizes that, violence can control and finally destroy the characters through its irrationality and unpredictability, and man's attempt to fight against it is always impotent and futile. In Oates'opinions, the individual can firmly shake his fist to fight against violence, more importantly, they can amazingly achieve transcendence or liberation through another act of violence.Chapter Six explores the reasons for their different naturalistic ideas in terms of social context, personal temperament and life experiences.Chapter Seven concludes, in the discourse of contemporary age, American naturalism has become more flexible. It tends to embrace hopeful and optimistic affirmations of man's free will and the worth of the individual, man are no longer viewed as the passive victims of natural forces and social environment.