Naturalism and biological determinism are two concepts which have played a major role in in literature as authors use them to shape their characters as well as project, mainly, the nature of existence. While naturalism focuses on the natural elements and how they influence individuals’ lives, biological determines addresses how physiological factors determine human behavior. Such authors as Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Mark Twain, Jack London and Stephen Crane have written works appealing to how characters in their respective stories interacted with the concepts in question. An exploration of how natural and biological determinism are evidenced in some of the works of these authors could help provide clarity about the nature of existence as perceived from different angles.
Charlotte Perkins Gilman: The Yellow Wallpaper
In this particular story, Gilman addressed the concept of femininity. The woman in the story is presented as having a mental health issue, nervous depression. However, a closer review of the relationship between the woman and her husband, John, reveals a possible situation where male patriarchy is in practice. Gilman (n.d.) wrote, “If a physician of high standing, and one's own husband, assures friends and relatives that there is really nothing the matter with one but temporary nervous depression - a slight hysterical tendency - what is one to do?” (p. 648). In this particular passage, the narrator explains that she is in a position secondary to the authority of the man. This sheds light on the social construction of gender whereby women were required to assume certain roles and positions in the society. Arguably, biological determinism prevents the narrator from exercising her free will as she is forced to obey her husband. In support, Nadkarni (2012) noted that Gilman’s story functions as a touchstone for the social construction of gender; that the biological essence of such roles determined the positions that both men and women occupied in the society. Thus, the narrator’s free will was limited due to her gender, a biological fact that she could not escape.
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Mark Twain: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Twain’s characterization of Tom Sawyer in the story depicts his partial inclination towards naturalism. The entire story features the experiences of Tom, some of which put him at odds with his seniors. Authority is a dominant theme in the story as can be depicted in some of Tom’s encounters, for instance, with her Aunt Polly. Tom appears as a considerably bright and energetic child. However, he is unable to demonstrate his full potential following close monitoring by his seniors. For instance, in one occasion Aunt Polly tells Tom, “… “forty times I’ve said if you didn’t let that jam alone I’d skin you. Hand me that switch” (Twain, 1866, p. 4). One can notice how Aunty Polly uses her authority to threaten Tom. Describing Twain’s choice of Tom’s characterization, Peter Messent (1998) wrote that in the book, “… whipping means a metaphorical slavery on Tom’s part to hegemonic values” (p. 221). Thus, in order to escape the dominant authority in the society within which he lives, Tom has to maneuver his way through lying. In reality, Tom is a victim of naturalism as he is unable to express his true self. Thus, the audience is not able to know the identity of Tom from the authority imposed on him.
Jack London: “To Build A Fire”
London wrote about an unnamed character who went hiking alone ignoring the dangers or challenges of going on such a journey without someone to accompany him. Arguably, this particular story depicts the real impact of nature on humanity’s attempt to survive. London (n.d.) wrote “The hair on the man’s face was similarly frosted, but more solidly. It took the form of ice and increased with every warm, moist breath from his mouth.” (p. 67). This particular statement demonstrates the unnamed character’s experience with nature. London’s (n.d.) description of the impact of nature on the man’s body reveals his inclination towards demonstrating how the natural environment can undermine humanity’s existence. In creating more emphasis, the man, during his hike, removed a mitten from his right and helped his dog tear out pieces of ice. However, “He did not bare his fingers more than a minute, and was surprises to find that they were number” (London, n.d., p. 67). Thus, these experiences depict the characters lack of free will to do whatever he wants and is forced by nature to behave in a manner that partially guarantees his survival. Biological determinism is also present as the fact that he cannot sustain the cold demonstrates his physiological frailty. In this case, his behavior was in response to what nature and biology demanded.
Stephen Crane: “The Open Boat”
Crane’s short story documents the experiences of men at sea fighting for survival. They are forced to take on different tasks to ensure that their boat does not capsize. The waves are rather strong and the men have to put in a lot of strength in order to sustain the impact. Evidence of how Crane appeals to the concept of naturalism can be seen when the captain asked one of the correspondents to check whether it was true they had seen the lighthouse. Crane wrote “The correspondent was at the oars then and he, too, wished to look at the lighthouse. But his back was toward the far shore. The waves were important, and for some time he could not seize an opportunity to turn his head” (p. 2). In this statement, Crane emphasized the power of nature in that the correspondent could not dare turn backwards as he had to look at the waves and warn the other crew members about impeding impact. During such a moment, the simple freedom of turning one’s head is undermined as the correspondent feared jeopardizing their survival.
Conclusion
In the stories discussed above, one can notice how the authors shaped the characters in a manner that depicts the influence of both nature and biological. In doing so, the authors demonstrated their acknowledgement of naturalism and biological determinism as concepts which can be used to explain human behavior.
References
Crane, S. (n.d.). “The Open Boat”. Retrieved from https://americanenglish.state.gov/files/ae/resource_files/the-open-boat.pdf
Gilman, C. P. (n.d.). The Yellow-Wallpaper. Retrieved from https://www.nlm.nih.gov/theliteratureofprescription/exhibitionAssets/digitalDocs/The-Yellow-Wall-Paper.pdf
London, J. (n.d.). “To Build A Fire”. Retrieved from https://americanenglish.state.gov/files/ae/resource_files/to-build-a-fire.pdf
Messent, P. (1998). Discipline and punishment in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer ”. Journal of American Studies , 32(2): 219-235.
Nadkarni, A. (2012). Reproducing Feminism in "Jasmine" and "The Yellow Wallpaper". Feminist Studies, 38 (1), 218-244. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/23269178
Twain, M. (1866). The adventures of Tom Sawyer.
