刘斌文

The different naturalistic ideas held by Frank Norris,Jack London and Theodore Dreiser

The ideas affecting on them

Their different naturalistic thoughts

Mechanism and Evolution of Morality of Spencer

Frank Norris

Zola and the Experimental Novel

Social Darwinism of Spencer , Superman of Nietzsche and historical materialism of Marx

Jack London

T. Dreiser

Norris believed that the novelist should function like a scientist, observing nature and social data, depicting nature and human experience as a deterministic process.In his novels,individual characters have a direct influence on their lives is replaced by a focus on fate or nature and is the opposite of the belief of free will.The story of octopus indicates his determinism.

Frank Norris: Determinism and Biological Laws

Biological Laws

In his works, he preferred to highlight the animal nature of man and the effect of heredity .He tired to describe human beings and society with biological laws.He believed that the animal nature of human does not disappear with the development of civilization.While, it will appear when the opportunity comes. McTeague and Vandover and the Brute adequately embody this idea.

Jack London

Contradictory faith

'Survival of the fittest' and supermanism

Socialist tendency

Contradictory faith

Jack London criticized but worshiped capitalism now and then.

London believed in Marxism,meanwhile accepted Darwin’s Theory of Evolution ， Spencer social Darwinism and Nietzsche’s Superman philosophy.

Jack London is sympathy for and discrimination against different races and poor people.

• He suffered ruthless exploitation of the capitalism.It was Marxism who made him aware of the root.

• The American values such as "individualism""wealth supremacy"have negative impacts on him.

'Survival of the fittest' and supermanism

London was deeply influenced by Darwin’s ideas of constant struggle in nature and ‘the survival of the fittest’.In the Call of the Wild ,the hero, a docile and gentle dog Buck,in order to survive, becomes ferocious ,witty and cunning and turns into a wolf at last.

Buck is the reflection of supermanism.At the beginning of the story,he has inherited a strong build from his parents.Good environment and heredity make him royal like a king .

Socialist tendency

Although Jack London's ideology is complicated and contradictory,his social fiction gives him credence as a spokesman for the working class because of his strong sympathy for the poor.

T. Dreiser

Mechanism and Amorality

Pessimism and "American Dream"

Objective Truthfulness

MechanismMan is so small and insignificant in the universe.Our ideal,struggle ,happiness and sadness are meaningless and thoughts and emotions are explained as Mechanical phenomenons.

Everything is influenced by nature power,so both individual and society become amoral such as Carrie ,Jennie Gerhardt and Clyde in an American Tragedy

Amorality

Pessimism• In Dreiser's world ,all the people suffered a l

ot ,and they were sinful, tragic and despairing .

American Dream(Drouet and

Hurstwood) (Carrie,Clyde)

(Jennie ) (Eugene Witla)

Dreiser had a dream.For himself, he wanted to succeed ;meanwhile for society, he hoped that everyone live a happy life.

the strivers

the passivist bearing fate

the artist

the lovers

Objective TruthfulnessDeriser's works described his own experiences or the experiences of one of the family members ,so the description is authentic and trustful. He was born in the poor, so he was rather familiar with the life of the lower class and he showed sympathy towards their sufferings and misery.

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