Kings Gothic Naturalism Essay -- Literary Analysis

Naturalist writers of the early 20th century cause the notion that persons are fated to whatever station in sustenance their biological heredity and social environment prepare them for. Those who profess to be proponents of the natural scientist perspective see literature as a style to understand the nature of man. Since the naturalist found in scientific breakthrough only a confirmation of humankinds helplessness in the face of indifferent and inscrutable forces, their writings usually generate an uninspiring idea of humanitys frailty (Strengell 11-12). While the deterministic worldview is logical, it is hard-fought for many to resonate with powerless and doomed characters. Thus, the only way for the realistic frame of mind to reach a wider audience is to present it in a different and less monotonous way. One of the signature traits of Naturalism seems to be the ease with which it combines in hybrids with other forms (Crow 123). Master of hatred Stephen poof illustrate s this creation in his novel, The Shining (1977), by intertwining the deterministic elements of Naturalism with Gothic and Horror. combination these genres may seem to be a marriage of complete opposites, scarcely what lies dormant on its own thrives in the pairing. Unlike most naturalist writers, King presents a characters strength along with his or her faults. Although their deterministic traits imply that failure is imminent, the Gothic elements provide the backdrop for exploitation sympathy and even understanding for a characters actions. By using these techniques, King transforms a genre that has been mainly sought subsequently for entertainment into insightful literature.In The Shining, King explores the triumphs and failures of naturalism, as he illustrates the mor... ... stiff method of understanding the deterministic forces that drives action.Works CitedCrow, Charles L. Jack Londons The Sea Wolfe as Gothic Romance. Gothick Origins and Innovations. By Allan Lloyd. Smith and Victor Sage. Amsterdam Rodopi, 1994. 123-31. Print. King, Stephen. The Shining. Ed. William G. Thompson. New York Pocket, 2001. Print. Magistrale, Tony. The fair play Comes Out The Scrapbook Chapter. Discovering Stephen Kings The Shining Essays on the Bestselling Novel by Americas Premier Horror Writer. 2nd ed. Tuscaloosa Borgo, 2008. 39-46. Print. Norris, Frank, and Donald Pizer. McTeague A Story of San Francisco Authoritative Text, Contexts, Criticism. 2nd ed. New York W.W. Norton, 1997. Print.Strengell, Heidi. Dissecting Stephen King From the Gothic to Literary Naturalism. Madison University of Wisconsin, 2006. Print.