09Theodore Dreiser 文档.docVIP

American Naturalism自然主义 I. Introduction1. Origin(1)Industrialism: create a large group of very poor people; live in slums and cannot control their lives; self-reliance disappeared in the fast development of economy(2)The Origin of Species (Charles Darwin, 1859, godless world, human beast, the survival of the fittest, cruel natural law correspond with cruel social realities(3)Herbert Spencer: Social Darwinism (human controlled by heredity and outside social power)(4)Howell’s “smiling aspect” realism seems too genteel and even false. Thus the influence of French naturalism, Tolstoy and Turgenev came to American literature.2 What is naturalism? As a genre, naturalism emphasiz heredity and environment as important deterministic forces shaping individualized characters in everyday life who are presented with objective presentation. The characters are biological creatures in a deterministic universe. At bottom, life is shown to be ironic, even tragic. Key words: scientific determinism, objective presentation, everyday life, a deterministic universe, a biological creature, environment and heredity, etc. 3. Significance (1) Breaking through some forbidden area in literature (violence, death, sex etc.)(2) Greatly influencing the 20th century writers such as Hemingway and Faulkner 3. Significance(1) Breaking through some forbidden area in literature (violence, death, sex etc.)(2) Greatly influencing the 20th century writers such as Hemingway and Faulkner Theodore Dreiser (1871 – 1945)1.Life(1)Indiana, German-speaking family(2)Extremely poor childhood(3)Worked as a reporter and his first book Sister Carrie was rejected many times(4)In his later life, he turned to Communism.2.Works(1)Sister Carrie (Carrie Meeber, Drouet, Hurstwood) (no control of her own life; driving blindly to catch all opportunities to make life better)(2)An American Tragedy(3)Cowperwood trilogy (also called “Trilogy of Desire”): The Financier, The Titan, The Stoic3.Analysis(1)Social Da