Essay on Naturalism in Stephen Cranes Maggie A Girl of...

Naturalism in Stephen Cranes Maggie: A Girl of the Streets Stephen Cranes interpretations of life are spawned from his own opinions of the world. These opinions correspond with naturalistic train of thought. He makes use of an observation technique to show the natural law of the universe: One can either accept the laws determining social order or become their victim. In the Novella, Maggie is used as a medium to paint the picture of the devastating consequences that befall one who attempts to violate this unspoken law, breaching the social and economic boundaries set upon them at birth. Cranes views of the poor allow him to create his characters as shells absent of conscious thought, leaving them susceptible to the ills of their†¦show more content†¦Crane insinuates that Maggie is special but does not elaborate as to why she is the only one chosen to try to crack the shell of pauperism that had for years held her at bay. Crane supports these factors of naturalism, when he bestows upon Maggie the initiative to venture beyond what she was born into without giving the reason as to why she alone is chosen. The naturalistic universe falls under one single explanatory theory of all events. In such a universe one can either internalize the laws determining natural and social focus or be their victim(P.18). Crane falls into this grouping of writers and supports this view in the novella, Maggie: A Girl of the Streets. Maggie is given two options upon arrival at the mental crossroads in her life. She can either submit to the social norms ascribed of her class or venture forth and fight them. Each choice comes with a consequence. By submitting to the assumed cultural standards of his class and making no attempts to distance himself from the life in which he was born, Maggies brother, Jimmie, manages to survive. Jimmie gains this life at the price of individualism. He became a pawn of the environment he lived in, conforming to its will and not his own. Conversely, Maggie, who attempts to distance herself from her own social circumstances and follow her own will, loses her life, but, in the pro cess, gains a sense of individualism. She make herself one of the few that dares to beShow MoreRelatedNaturalism in Stephen Cranes Maggie: a Girl of the Streets1630 Words   |  7 PagesNaturalism in Stephen Crane’s â€Å"Maggie: A Girl of the Streets† â€Å"Maggie: A Girl of the Streets,† is a novella written by Stephen Crane and published in the year 1893. This work was published during the time of the Industrial Revolution, when factories were appearing everywhere. Their workers were often not paid enough to lead a decent life, and suffered from their situation. They were not very civilized and sometimes aggressive in their behavior. 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As Phillip Barrish puts it, â€Å"Literary works †¦ traditionally identified with naturalism depict characters whose lives are controlled or ‘determined’ by immense, impersonal forces that the characters themselves can barely understand, let alone effectively resist† (116). Obviously, not all naturalist literature is created equal; different authors choose to focus on different aspects