Jack London

Naturalism
Many scholars see naturalism as an extension of realism, but there are some distinctions between the two movements. Naturalism flourished in the early 1900s, and naturalists, like realists, wanted to reflect reality, but their approach was somewhat more “scientific.”
- Naturalist authors sought to demonstrate scientific objectivity in their writings.
o These writers saw themselves as detached observers who were studying human beings and their relationships to others and their surroundings. Their works may make social statements, but they do not tend to moralize.
- Naturalism was greatly affected by Charles Darwin’s recent scientific theories.



Charles Darwin Image of Darwin is from AboutDarwin.com, http://www.aboutdarwin.com




Darwin’s works Origin of Species (1859) and Descent of Man (1870) changed the way many people viewed humans and the development of society. Through his observations, Darw...