Examples Of Naturalism In The Open Boat

“When it occurs to a man that nature does not regard him as important, and that she feels she would not maim the universe by disposing of him, he at first wishes to throw bricks at the temple, and he hates deeply the fact that there are no bricks and no temples.” In other words, nature is an apathetic force that acts upon the lives of human beings simply as a consequence of their existence. However maddening and frightening this may be, man is in essence a byproduct of the environment and its conditions. “The Open Boat” by Stephen Crane displays a theme commonly found in naturalistic works of literature (517). According to “Realism in the Frontier,” naturalism begins in the late 19th century and continues into the early 20th century as philosophical

Louise is not alone in her struggle versus heredity. The character Ethan Frome from Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome is also a victim of heredity and the conflicts it can cause. As a young man, he has aspirations of graduating from college and becoming an engineer. Unfortunately, Ethan must put this dream on hold to care for his dying father. Before he can return to his scholarly pursuits, his mother requires his assistance as she too falls ill. Before Ethan can ever get his life back, his newly wed wife becomes sick. Because of Ethan’s relationship to these people he “had to stay and care for the folks. There wasn’t ever other than Ethan. First his father- then his mother- then his wife” (2). The majority of Ethan’s life revolves around caring for his ill relatives simply because he is born into that family. Heredity and environment continues to play a prominent role in naturalistic works of literature such as in “Miniver Cheevy”. The poem by Edwin Arlington Robinson tells the woes of a child of scorn named Miniver, a man who feels he was born in the wrong time. Miniver’s problem lies in that “Miniver loved the days of old/ When swords were bright and steeds were prancing; /… Miniver Cheevy, born too late, /…Miniver coughed and called it fate, /

Many characters in these works of literature have little to no control over their economic circumstances. For example, Ethan Frome wishes to leave Starkfield for the West where he can start a new life with Mattie. Unfortunately, Ethan does not have the financial means to do so, especially because he cannot leave Zeena completely helpless. While evaluating his options, Ethan checked a newspaper to see the expense of traveling west. Here he runs into a realization, “A moment ago he had wondered what he and Mattie were to live on when they reached the West; now he saw that he had not even the money to take her there” (Wharton, “Ethan” 57). Due to his father’s foolish spending, his parent’s and Zeena’s failing health, and the broken down farm, Ethan has little money to spare. This leaves him stuck living with Zeena in Starkfield for an indefinite amount of time, ultimately causing him great pain. Another example can be found in “The Outcasts of Poker Flat.” In the story, a group of four misfits are exiled for various reasons all of which relate back to the way the characters earn their money. Mr. Oakhurst gambles for a living, which is considered impure, so he is sent away just like the sleuth robber Uncle Billy is. Some were not even exiled, but were executed. This is explained, “It is but due to the sex, however, to state that their impropriety was professional, and it was only in such